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

Two opposing quarters of the globe flood, while the other two dry out, forming a unique four-leaf-clover pattern. — Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026

The debate over the drying out of the Scott River reflects long-standing disputes over how to keep water in the river and balance the competing needs of farmers and fish. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

The weather will dry out Friday and remain dry into next week. — Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026

But when drought struck Oklahoma and surrounding states, as drought regularly did, the topsoil dried out and blew away. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 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