dry out

verb

dried out; drying out; dries out

intransitive verb

: 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

Also, sinking air tends to dry out, which can reduce cloudiness and allow more sunshine to reach the surface. —Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026

Water deeply and avoid letting the soil dry out completely. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026

Conditions will dry out by Friday, with chances for another storm on Sunday. —Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026

By Friday morning when the area should begin to dry out, forecasters predicted totals could reach up to 4 inches of rain in coastal and valley areas and 8 inches in the mountains and foothills. —Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dry out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Medical Definition

dry-out

1 of 2 adjective

ˈdrī-ˌau̇t 

: providing detoxification treatment

checked into a dry-out clinic

dry out

2 of 2 transitive verb

(ˈ)drī-ˈau̇t 

: to subject to withdrawal from the use of alcohol or drugs : detoxify sense 2

intransitive verb

: to undergo an extended period of withdrawal from alcohol or drug use especially at a special clinic : detoxify