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.
That market dried up in 1973, when the Federal Aviation Administration banned such flights to protect people and property from loud sonic booms. Mike Wall, Space.com, 5 June 2026 These are the sorts of commitments that the treasury may not be able to meet, should gold prices drop or foreign investment dry up. Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026 Federal labor data shows job opening and hiring rates have tumbled from pandemic-era peaks, signaling that work opportunities are drying up. Alex Harring, CNBC, 4 June 2026 Money often dried up once investors secured or completed their projects, while officials prioritized short-term achievements during their limited tenures. Reagan Yip, CNN Money, 3 June 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 7 Jun. 2026.

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