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

Because the rain stopped at the exact same time temperatures surged, the moist soils dried out at unprecedented speeds. — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 26 July 2026

Showers and possible thunderstorms are forecast to continue through the night Wednesday and into Thursday before conditions begin to dry out, NWS states. — Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 26 July 2026

Timing your watering for early mornings keeps plants from drying out; this can result in fungal diseases, according to Hird. — Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 26 July 2026

This drought-tolerant herb is sensitive to overwatering, so only water the plant when its soil starts to dry out. — Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 July 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