1
a
: free or relatively free from a liquid and especially water
Mix the dry ingredients first.
as dry as a bone
b
: not being in or under water
happy to be on dry land
c
meteorology
: lacking precipitation or humidity
a dry climate
2
a
: characterized by exhaustion of a supply of liquid
a dry well
b
geology
: devoid of running water
a dry ravine
c
: devoid of natural moisture
My throat was dry.
dry leaves
d
: no longer sticky or damp
The paint isn't dry yet.
e
: not giving milk
a dry cow
f
: lacking freshness : stale
g
chemistry
: anhydrous
3
a
: marked by the absence or scantiness of secretions
a dry cough
b
: not shedding or accompanied by tears
a dry sob
4
obsolete
: involving no bloodshed or drowning
I would fain die a dry death—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare5
a
: marked by the absence of alcoholic beverages
a dry party
b
: prohibiting the manufacture or distribution of alcoholic beverages
a dry county
6
: served or eaten without butter or margarine
dry toast
7
alcohol
a
: lacking sweetness : sec
dry champagne
b
: having all or most sugar fermented to alcohol
a dry wine
dry beer
8
a
: solid as opposed to liquid
dry groceries
b
: reduced to powder or flakes : dehydrated
dry milk
c
: dealing in dry goods or other nonperishable items
After breakfast, we head to the wet market along Graham Street in Hong Kong. The wet market sells foodstuffs; the adjacent dry market offers clothes, shoes, and other retail items.—Rudy Maxa
Rudy Maxa9
: functioning without lubrication
a dry clutch
10
of natural gas
: containing no recoverable hydrocarbon (such as gasoline)
11
: requiring no liquid in preparation or operation
a dry photocopying process
12
a
: not showing or communicating warmth, enthusiasm, or tender feeling : severe
a dry style of painting
b
: wearisome, uninteresting
dry passages of description
a dry lecturer
c
: lacking embellishment : plain
13
a
: not yielding what is expected or desired : unproductive
a writer going through a dry spell
b
: having no personal bias or emotional concern
the dry light of reason
14
: marked by matter-of-fact, ironic, or terse manner of expression
a dry wit
has a very dry sense of humor
15
: lacking smooth sound qualities
a dry rasping voice
16
: being a dry run
a dry rehearsal
dried; drying
: to make dry (see dry entry 1)
drying her hair
: to become dry
waiting for the paint to dry
plural drys
1
: the condition of being dry (see dry entry 1) : dryness
2
: something dry
especially
: a dry place
3
Synonyms
Examples of dry in a Sentence
Adjective
Mix the dry ingredients first, then add the milk and eggs.
the dry heat of the desert
We tried to stay dry in the rain by standing under a tree.
The stream is bone dry.
Are the clothes dry yet?
The paint should be dry in a few hours.
a stretch of dry weather
a country with a very dry climate
This plant does well in dry conditions.
The chicken was dry and tasteless.
Verb
I'll wash the dishes if you dry them.
Make sure you dry your hands.
He dried himself with the towel.
Stop crying and dry your eyes.
I'll wash and you dry, okay?
Your shirt is drying on the clothesline.
Recent Examples on the Web
Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
That minimal percentage is caused by extremely dry air that circulates throughout the cabin at 30,000 feet.
—Sara Button, AFAR Media, 19 Dec. 2024
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2024
Pet safety: How to keep your pets safe in cold weather
The best tips to heal dry and chapped lips
Use lip balm or ointment throughout the day, but be careful to avoid overdoing it.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 7 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dry 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
The gel provides immediate soothing relief from dry, itchy skin as well as 24-hour skin hydration.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
That minimal percentage is caused by extremely dry air that circulates throughout the cabin at 30,000 feet.
—Sara Button, AFAR Media, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
If your tools have rough wooden handles, smooth the handles out with some sandpaper and apply linseed oil to the wood to prevent drying and cracking.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2024
Pet safety: How to keep your pets safe in cold weather
The best tips to heal dry and chapped lips
Use lip balm or ointment throughout the day, but be careful to avoid overdoing it.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 7 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dry
Dictionary Entries Near dry
Cite this Entry
“Dry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dry. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dry
1 of 3 adjective
drier
ˈdrī(-ə)r
; driest
ˈdrī-əst
1
: free or nearly free from liquid and especially water
dry weight
dry steam
2
: characterized by loss or lack of water: as
a
: lacking precipitation and humidity
a dry climate
b
: lacking freshness : stale
c
: low in or deprived of natural juices or moisture
dry hay
a dry fruit
3
: not being in or under water
dry land
4
a
b
: marked by the absence of alcoholic beverages
a dry party
c
: no longer damp or sticky
the paint is dry
5
: containing or using no liquid (as water)
a dry creek
dry heat
6
: not giving milk
a dry cow
7
: not producing phlegm
dry cough
8
: not producing or yielding what is expected or wanted
a dry oil well
9
: marked by a matter-of-fact, ironic, or terse manner of expression
dry humor
10
: failing to arouse interest or enthusiasm
a dry lecture
11
: not sweet
dry wines
12
: relating to, favoring, or practicing prohibition of alcoholic beverages
a dry county
dryly
adverb
or drily
dryness
noun
dry
2 of 3 verb
dried; drying
: to make or become dry
Medical Definition
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