parched

adjective \ ˈpärcht \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of parched

: deprived of natural moisture

parched land

; also : thirsty

He was parched after the long hike.

See parched defined for English-language learners

See parched defined for kids

Examples of parched in a Sentence

Could I have some water? I'm parched.

Recent Examples of parched from the Web

The side-by-side projects deliver billions of gallons of water each year from massive pumps at the south Delta to the parched southern half of the state, including 3 million acres of valley farmland.

— dale kasler and ryan sabalow, sacbee, "Southern California water agency backs two Delta tunnels in breakthrough vote | The Sacramento Bee," 10 Apr. 2018
As the sun beat down, a group of skinny kids kicked soccer balls across a field of parched grass.

— kate linthicum, latimes.com, "These are the Central American migrants in Trump's crosshairs," 5 Apr. 2018
And not just in the increasingly parched Middle East or North Africa.

— lisa hänel, USA TODAY, "Recycling wastewater makes people squeamish. But the world may need to get over it.," 22 Mar. 2018
On its high plateau, NASA tests Mars rovers, driving them across parched terrain that role-plays as the Red Planet.

— ben guarino, chicagotribune.com, "A tiny skeleton found in Chile might look like an alien, but her genes tell a different story," 22 Mar. 2018
The trees store water, which is useful in such a parched region.

— The Economist, "How illegal charcoal fuels war and harms the environment," 28 Mar. 2018
On its high plateau, NASA tests Mars rovers, driving them across parched terrain that role-plays as the Red Planet.

— ben guarino, BostonGlobe.com, "This tiny skeleton found in Chile might look like an alien’s, but genetics studies are uncovering the tragic, true story," 23 Mar. 2018
Nowhere in the strategic plan — and absent in much of Thursday's committee hearing — is there a reference to climate change, which has been widely linked to stronger storms and parched forests more prone to massive wildfires.

— jason pohl, azcentral, "FEMA plan calls for less bureaucracy, more civilian disaster preparedness," 19 Mar. 2018
Update | As a heat wave swept across California this past summer, a fire broke out on the parched hills of northeastern Los Angeles and roasted several vehicles along a major highway.

— seung lee, Newsweek, "How the Government's Drone Registry May Have Broken the Law," 29 Feb. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'parched.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of parched

circa 1552

PARCHED Defined for English Language Learners

parched

adjective

Definition of parched for English Language Learners

: very dry especially because of hot weather and no rain
: very thirsty

Learn More about parched

Spanish Central: Translation of parched Nglish: Translation of parched for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of parched for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up parched? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

parched

Definition of parched

Examples of parched in a Sentence

Recent Examples of parched from the Web

First Known Use of parched

PARCHED Defined for English Language Learners

parched

Definition of parched for English Language Learners

Learn More about parched

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

headlong

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

What the #@*% Is a ‘Grawlix?’

'Altho' vs. 'Although'

A Brief History of 'Potshot'

What Is a 'Thirst Trap'?

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Words of the Year: 1066

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

More Confusing Words—Quiz

Name that Thing: Toys and Games Edition

True or False?

SCRABBLE® Sprint

What the #@*% Is a ‘Grawlix?’

Trending: Trump: Den of Thieves and 'Lowlifes'

The Adverb: A Most Fascinating POS

More Confusing Words—Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

parched

Definition of parched

Examples of parched in a Sentence

Recent Examples of parched from the Web

First Known Use of parched

PARCHED Defined for English Language Learners

parched

Definition of parched for English Language Learners

Learn More about parched

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

What the #@*% Is a ‘Grawlix?’

Trending: Trump: Den of Thieves and 'Lowlifes'

The Adverb: A Most Fascinating POS

More Confusing Words—Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes