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
Example Sentences
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.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebSeth Borenstein, Star Tribune, 6 Aug. 2020
Each female then seeks a sandy dry patch of ground, digs a tunnel, flies up to a tree, paralyzes a cicada, takes it down to her tunnel, and literally stuffs it into the tunnel.
—courant.com, 6 Aug. 2020
Your regimen hinges on products that speak to both the dry and oily patches.
—Rozalynn S. Frazier, SELF, 8 July 2020
Each one has surfactants, which reduce the surface tension of a liquid, to help your dishes come out dry.
—Jennifer Aldrich, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2020
According to the case report, the man went to Centre Hospitalier de Versailles in Le Chesnay near Paris with complaints of having symptoms like a fever, dry cough, diarrhea, and generally feeling sick.
—Korin Miller, Health.com, 2 July 2020
The fire southwest of Phoenix was the latest in a number of blazes that erupted last month across Arizona amid dry, hot weather.
—Fox News, 2 July 2020
The department, whose officers responded to the beach, said the man got out of the vehicle and ended up on dry land.
—NBC News, 1 July 2020
After a dry start to the weekend, rain chances returned to North Texas Sunday with more humidity and strong south winds gusting over 30 mph.
—Dallas News, 28 June 2020
Angela Watson, chicagotribune.com, 23 Feb. 2021
Wipe off your whetstone, and clean and dry your knife.
—Adrienne Donica, Popular Mechanics, 10 Feb. 2021
Lay your bra flat to dry instead of tossing it in the dryer or hanging it by a strap.
—Jessica Teich, Good Housekeeping, 7 Sep. 2020
Various financial vultures have always excelled at getting richer just as the working class is hung out to dry, and private equity appears increasingly well-positioned to devour a significant chunk of the post-pandemic economy.
—J.c. Pan, The New Republic, 28 Aug. 2020
Bricks cover the top at varying levels, some sitting low enough to hold a simmering pot, others high enough from the heat to dry her clean cups and bowls.
—Amy Thielen, Saveur, 10 Oct. 2018
Additionally, failing to dry your knives after washing or leaving acidic foods such as tomatoes, lemons, and mustard on the knife blade can tarnish it.
—Marissa Wu, Southern Living, 26 June 2023
Give the ones worth saving a good scrub (and plenty of time to dry) before stowing them away for the season. 3.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 June 2023
My neighbor keeps hanging lingerie out the window to dry.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 June 2023
Stephanie Montes, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2023
Advertisement Once the ceiling paint dries, cut in the wall edges — around the ceiling and along the skirt board (the trim piece often found at the edges of an enclosed staircase) and any other trim.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 16 June 2023
Before the nail polish dries, sprinkle with blue glitter.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA TODAY, 6 June 2023
Start out with a pair made of either merino wool or synthetic fabrics; wool is better at regulating temperature, while synthetic dries much faster.
—Matt Crisara, Popular Mechanics, 2 June 2023
Once the base color dries, apply your next color over the top.
—Kristin Luna, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2023
After the sunscreen dries, then apply your layer of tanning oil.
—elle.com, 16 May 2023
The towels passed the hand washing test with just a few pats on the hands and absorbed a bowl of water with ease, ensuring a drip-free dry.
—Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2023
Once the final coat dries, reinstall hardware.
—Michael Stillwell, Popular Mechanics, 27 Mar. 2023
See More
Adjective
Most of this year's storms so far have been weak, decapitated by high level winds and dry air, but Klotzbach said that's about to change.
—Seth Borenstein, Star Tribune, 6 Aug. 2020
Each female then seeks a sandy dry patch of ground, digs a tunnel, flies up to a tree, paralyzes a cicada, takes it down to her tunnel, and literally stuffs it into the tunnel.
—courant.com, 6 Aug. 2020
Your regimen hinges on products that speak to both the dry and oily patches.
—Rozalynn S. Frazier, SELF, 8 July 2020
Each one has surfactants, which reduce the surface tension of a liquid, to help your dishes come out dry.
—Jennifer Aldrich, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2020
According to the case report, the man went to Centre Hospitalier de Versailles in Le Chesnay near Paris with complaints of having symptoms like a fever, dry cough, diarrhea, and generally feeling sick.
—Korin Miller, Health.com, 2 July 2020
The fire southwest of Phoenix was the latest in a number of blazes that erupted last month across Arizona amid dry, hot weather.
—Fox News, 2 July 2020
The department, whose officers responded to the beach, said the man got out of the vehicle and ended up on dry land.
—NBC News, 1 July 2020
After a dry start to the weekend, rain chances returned to North Texas Sunday with more humidity and strong south winds gusting over 30 mph.
—Dallas News, 28 June 2020
Verb
Use a polymer sealant on the damp cloth and dry the area with the other one.
—Angela Watson, chicagotribune.com, 23 Feb. 2021
Wipe off your whetstone, and clean and dry your knife.
—Adrienne Donica, Popular Mechanics, 10 Feb. 2021
Lay your bra flat to dry instead of tossing it in the dryer or hanging it by a strap.
—Jessica Teich, Good Housekeeping, 7 Sep. 2020
Various financial vultures have always excelled at getting richer just as the working class is hung out to dry, and private equity appears increasingly well-positioned to devour a significant chunk of the post-pandemic economy.
—J.c. Pan, The New Republic, 28 Aug. 2020
Bricks cover the top at varying levels, some sitting low enough to hold a simmering pot, others high enough from the heat to dry her clean cups and bowls.
—Amy Thielen, Saveur, 10 Oct. 2018
Additionally, failing to dry your knives after washing or leaving acidic foods such as tomatoes, lemons, and mustard on the knife blade can tarnish it.
—Marissa Wu, Southern Living, 26 June 2023
Give the ones worth saving a good scrub (and plenty of time to dry) before stowing them away for the season. 3.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 June 2023
My neighbor keeps hanging lingerie out the window to dry.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 June 2023
Noun
This non-slip stone mat, which was featured in a TikTok video that's racked up more than 173,000 views, is made of siliceous sedimentary rock, which can hold up to 150 percent of its weight in moisture and dries in seconds, leaving you with a clean, mold-free surface every time.
—Stephanie Montes, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2023
Advertisement Once the ceiling paint dries, cut in the wall edges — around the ceiling and along the skirt board (the trim piece often found at the edges of an enclosed staircase) and any other trim.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 16 June 2023
Before the nail polish dries, sprinkle with blue glitter.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA TODAY, 6 June 2023
Start out with a pair made of either merino wool or synthetic fabrics; wool is better at regulating temperature, while synthetic dries much faster.
—Matt Crisara, Popular Mechanics, 2 June 2023
Once the base color dries, apply your next color over the top.
—Kristin Luna, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2023
After the sunscreen dries, then apply your layer of tanning oil.
—elle.com, 16 May 2023
The towels passed the hand washing test with just a few pats on the hands and absorbed a bowl of water with ease, ensuring a drip-free dry.
—Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2023
Once the final coat dries, reinstall hardware.
—Michael Stillwell, Popular Mechanics, 27 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dry.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective, Verb, and Noun
Middle English, from Old English drȳge; akin to Old High German truckan dry, Old English drēahnian to drain
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of dry was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing dry
Dictionary Entries Near dry
Cite this Entry
“Dry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dry. Accessed 13 Jul. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on dry
Nglish: Translation of dry for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of dry for Arabic Speakers
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