dry

[ drahy ]

adjective

, dri·er [drahy, -er], dri·est [drahy, -ist].

1. free from moisture or excess moisture; not moist; not wet:

   a dry towel; dry air.

   Antonyms: wet

2. having or characterized by little or no rain:

   a dry climate; the dry season.

3. characterized by absence, deficiency, or failure of natural or ordinary moisture.
4. not under, in, or on water:

   It was good to be on dry land.

5. not now containing or yielding water or other liquid; depleted or empty of liquid:

   The well is dry.

6. not yielding milk:

   a dry cow.

7. free from tears:

   dry eyes.

8. drained or evaporated away:

   a dry river.

9. desiring drink; thirsty:

   He was so dry he could hardly speak.

10. causing thirst:

    dry work.

11. served or eaten without butter, jam, etc.:

    dry toast.

12. (of cooked food) lacking enough moisture or juice to be satisfying or succulent.
13. (of bread and bakery products) stale.
14. of or relating to nonliquid substances or commodities:

    dry measure; dry provisions.

15. (of wines) not sweet.
16. (of a cocktail)
    1. made with dry vermouth:

       a dry Manhattan.

    2. made with relatively little dry vermouth:

       a dry martini.

17. characterized by or favoring prohibition of the manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors for use in beverages:

    a dry state.

18. (of British biscuits) not sweet.
19. plain; bald; unadorned:

    dry facts.

20. dull; uninteresting:

    a dry subject.

    Synonyms: jejune, tiresome, boring, barren, tedious

    Antonyms: interesting

21. expressed in a straight-faced, matter-of-fact way:

    dry humor.

22. indifferent; cold; unemotional:

    a dry answer.

23. unproductive:

    The greatest of artists have dry years.

24. (of lumber) fully seasoned.
25. Building Trades.
    1. (of masonry construction) built without fresh mortar or cement.
    2. (of a wall, ceiling, etc., in an interior) finished without the use of fresh plaster.
26. Ceramics.
    1. unglazed.
    2. insufficiently glazed.
27. Art. hard and formal in outline, or lacking mellowness and warmth in color.

verb (used with object)

, dried, dry·ing.

1. to make dry; free from moisture:

   to dry the dishes.

verb (used without object)

, dried, dry·ing.

1. to become dry; lose moisture.

   Synonyms: dehydrate

noun

, plural drys, dries [drahyz].

1. a prohibitionist.
2. a dry place, area, or region.

verb phrase

1. 1. to make or become completely dry.
   2. to undergo or cause to undergo detoxification from consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol.
2. 1. to make or become completely dry.
   2. to cease to exist; evaporate.
   3. Informal. to stop talking.
   4. (in acting) to forget one's lines or part.

dry

/ draɪ /

adjective

1. lacking moisture; not damp or wet
2. having little or no rainfall
3. not in or under water

   dry land

4. having the water drained away or evaporated

   a dry river

5. not providing milk

   a dry cow

6. (of the eyes) free from tears
7. 1. in need of a drink; thirsty
   2. causing thirst

      dry work

8. eaten without butter, jam, etc

   dry toast

9. (of a wine, cider, etc) not sweet
10. pathol not accompanied by or producing a mucous or watery discharge

    a dry cough

11. consisting of solid as opposed to liquid substances or commodities
12. without adornment; plain

    dry facts

13. lacking interest or stimulation

    a dry book

14. lacking warmth or emotion; cold

    a dry greeting

15. (of wit or humour) shrewd and keen in an impersonal, sarcastic, or laconic way
16. opposed to or prohibiting the sale of alcoholic liquor for human consumption

    a dry area

17. (of a ewe) without a lamb after the mating season
18. electronics (of a soldered electrical joint) imperfect because the solder has not adhered to the metal, thus reducing conductance

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by off to make or become dry or free from moisture
2. tr to preserve (meat, vegetables, fruit, etc) by removing the moisture

noun

1. informal.
   a Conservative politician who is considered to be a hard-liner Compare wet
2. the dry informal.
   the dry season
3. an informal word for prohibitionist

Derived Forms

• ˈdryness, noun
• ˈdryable, adjective

Other Words From

• drya·ble adjective
• dryly adverb
• dryness noun
• over·dry adjective
• over·dryly adverb
• over·dryness noun
• pre·dry verb (used with object) predried predrying
• re·dry verb redried redrying
• ultra·dry adjective
• under·dry verb (used with object) underdried underdrying
• un·dry adjective
• un·drya·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dry¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English drie, Old English drȳge; akin to Dutch droog, German trocken; drought

Word History and Origins

Origin of dry¹

Old English drӯge; related to Old High German truckan, Old Norse draugr dry wood

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. not dry behind the ears, immature; unsophisticated:

   Adult responsibilities were forced on him, although he was still not dry behind the ears.

More idioms and phrases containing dry

• cut and dried
• hang out to dry
• high and dry
• keep one's powder dry
• well's run dry

Synonym Study

Dry, arid both mean without moisture. Dry is the general word indicating absence of water or freedom from moisture: a dry well; dry clothes. Arid suggests great or intense dryness in a region or climate, especially such as results in bareness or in barrenness: arid tracts of desert. See evaporate.

Example Sentences

Barnett’s consulting and ghostwriting services “dried up with so much of the rest of the economy,” with the pair relying on charity and programs like Meals on Wheels, as well as plenty of oatmeal.

From Salon

Hugh Grant, who starred in “Four Weddings,” “Notting Hill” and “Love Actually,” introduced Curtis, using his dry wit to recall the beginning of their creative partnership in “Four Weddings.”

From Los Angeles Times

Ms Rowe said that her family had been "left high and dry".

From BBC

While total annual rain and snowfall levels may not change dramatically, long periods between intense precipitation events allow the soil to dry and become more compact.

From Science Daily

And, she adds, with the contributions to society made by international students often overlooked, while their post-graduate employment options dry up, there’s growing resentment.

From BBC

Related Words

• arid
• bare
• barren
• dehydrated
• dusty
• parched
• stale
• torrid