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dry out
verb
dried out; drying out; dries out
: to undergo an extended period of withdrawal from alcohol or drug use especially at a special clinic
Examples of dry out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Those conditions increase evaporation, drying out vegetation and soil and lowering groundwater tables.
—
Michael Wilson, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2025
Alcohols: Short-chain alcohols like propanol, ethanol, and isopropyl alcohol evaporate quickly, which can make your hair dry out.
—
Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 2 Feb. 2025
The drying out of some bodies of water can become a source of climate change-fueling greenhouse gas emissions.
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Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 29 Jan. 2025
Next, let the mat dry out to prevent mold or mildew from growing.
—
Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
1892, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near dry out
Cite this Entry
“Dry out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dry%20out. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
Medical Definition
dry-out
1 of 2 adjective
: providing detoxification treatment
checked into a dry-out clinic
dry out
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to subject to withdrawal from the use of alcohol or drugs : detoxify sense 2
: to undergo an extended period of withdrawal from alcohol or drug use especially at a special clinic : detoxify
More from Merriam-Webster on dry out
Britannica English: Translation of dry out for Arabic Speakers
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