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

Without those same preservatives, homemade loaves are more likely to dry out and become stale in a matter of days. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 24 May 2026

To avoid fungal infections, allow your plant’s soil to dry out in between waterings. —Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 24 May 2026

Historic heat in March melted snowpack to below normal levels across southern California, drying out vegetation sooner. —Kasha Patel, CNN Money, 23 May 2026

The system pushed eastward, allowing conditions to dry out for the rest of the morning into the early afternoon. —Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 23 May 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