drying

American  

[drahy-ing] / ˈdraɪ ɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing dryness.

   a drying breeze.

2. designed to become or capable of becoming dry and hard on exposure to air.

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drying British  

/ ˈdraɪɪŋ /

noun

1. the action or process of making or becoming dry

2. Also called (not now in technical usage): seasoning.  the processing of timber until it has a moisture content suitable for the purposes for which it is to be used

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adjective

1. causing dryness

   a drying wind

Other Word Forms

• nondrying adjective
• undrying adjective

Etymology

Origin of drying

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; dry, -ing ²

Example Sentences

"By drying and heating the remaining material, we were able to measure the characteristic molecules of different types of plastics in the Utrecht laboratory, using mass spectrometry," Ten Hietbrink explains.

From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026

But supplies are drying up, with a vital shipping lane for oil from the Middle East, the Strait of Hormuz, virtually paralysed.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

St. Aubin said he worries that healthcare may be holding up the labor market in terms of growth in jobs, and that job openings may be drying up.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 1, 2026

The Met Office thinks that, during the summer months, despite an overall drying trend, there are likely to be increases in the intensity of summer rainfall events too.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

At the other end, freestanding racks were hung with drying plants, cured leather, and what looked like strips of drakon jerky.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan