variants
or less commonly drouth
1
: a period of dryness especially when prolonged
specifically
: one that causes extensive damage to crops or prevents their successful growth
resistant to drought
2
: a prolonged or chronic shortage or lack of something expected or desired
a drought of creativity
droughty
adjective
ˈdrau̇-tē
Examples of drought in a Sentence
The drought caused serious damage to crops.
a period of drought that lasted several years
Recent Examples on the Web
After making the playoffs as a wild-card team last season – ending an eight-season playoff drought in the process – the Broncos are a vogue pick to dramatically improve in 2025.
—
Jim Reineking, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
If conditions are hazardous, such as during high winds or extreme drought, the issuance of burn permits is temporarily paused and resumed once conditions improve.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Aug. 2025
Now Freeman, 39, enters a season in which a return trip to the title game — and a national championship to end a 37-year title drought — is the goal, building on the always-high expectations in South Bend.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
The collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, also known as AMOC, would cause major shifts in climate, such as moving the tropical rainfall belt, bringing extremely cold winters and summer droughts to Western Europe, while also increasing sea levels by 50 centimeters.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drought
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jim Reineking, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
If conditions are hazardous, such as during high winds or extreme drought, the issuance of burn permits is temporarily paused and resumed once conditions improve.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Aug. 2025
Now Freeman, 39, enters a season in which a return trip to the title game — and a national championship to end a 37-year title drought — is the goal, building on the always-high expectations in South Bend.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
The collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, also known as AMOC, would cause major shifts in climate, such as moving the tropical rainfall belt, bringing extremely cold winters and summer droughts to Western Europe, while also increasing sea levels by 50 centimeters.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drought
Cite this Entry
“Drought.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drought. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
drought
noun
variants
also drouth
ˈdrau̇t 
ˈdrau̇th
: a long period of dry weather
droughty
adjective
-ē
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share