dry up

verb

dried up; drying up; dries up
Synonyms of dry upnext

transitive verb

: to cut off the supply of

intransitive verb

1
: to disappear as if by evaporation, draining, or cutting off of a source of supply
2
: to wither or die through gradual loss of vitality
3
: to stop talking

Examples of dry up in a Sentence

sick of her constant complaining, he angrily told her to dry up
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
When borrowing dries up, the scheme collapses. Les Rubin, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026 Zandi warned that a collapse in the markets would actively threaten a fragile economy, as consumer spending dries up and businesses become more cautious. Tristan Bove, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026 Locals were detained and quickly released as investigative leads dried up. Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026 The Drying Lotion helps dry up surface blemishes overnight. Tory Johnson, ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dry up

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of dry up was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dry up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dry%20up. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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