drier; driest
1
a
: having no or very little water or liquid
a dry riverbed
Mix the dry ingredients first, then add the milk and eggs.
a cool, dry place
Wipe the surface dry. [=wipe the surface until it is dry]
The air is usually dry during the winter. [=there is very little moisture in the air]
the dry heat of the desert
We tried to stay/keep dry in the rain by standing under a tree.
The stream is usually (as) dry as a bone [=completely dry] this time of year.
The stream is bone dry.
b
: no longer wet
Are the clothes dry yet?
The paint should be dry in a few hours.
2
: having no rain or little rain
This has been an unusually dry summer. [=there has been little rain this summer]
a stretch of dry weather
a dry spell/season
a country with a very dry climate
This plant does well in dry conditions.
3
a
: not having the usual or desired amount of moisture
My throat is dry.
My lips are dry.
dry, itchy skin
dry hair
The medication can cause dry mouth. [=a condition in which the inside of your mouth become very dry]
b
: having the moisture removed by cooking or some other process
The chicken was dry and tasteless.
dry [=powdered] milk
4
: not producing a wet substance
a dry cough [=a cough that does not produce any phlegm]
The baby stayed dry all night. [=the baby did not urinate all night]
His eyes were dry. [=there were no tears in his eyes]
Note: If there is not a dry eye in the house/room (etc.), everyone in a place is emotional or is affected deeply by something.
5
: no longer producing water, oil, etc.
a dry well
a dry oil well
The well went/ran dry.
(chiefly US) They drilled for oil but the well came up dry.
—often used figurativelyThe author went through a dry [=unproductive] period and couldn't write anything.
The group stayed together despite several dry [=unsuccessful] years.
They went searching for clues but came up dry. [=came up empty]
6
: served or eaten without butter, jam, etc.
a breakfast of dry toast and coffee
7
of wine, sherry, etc.
: not sweet
a very dry red wine
dry sherry
8
: not interesting, exciting, or emotional
The novel included several long, dry [=boring] passages.
His lectures were usually very dry.
9
: funny or clever but expressed in a quiet or serious way
He has a very dry sense of humor.
a dry wit
10
a
: not having or offering alcoholic beverages
a dry party
b
: not allowing alcoholic beverages
The college campus has been dry for 10 years.
a dry state/county [=a state/county where alcoholic beverages cannot be sold]
c
: not drinking alcoholic beverages
He's been dry [=sober] for several years now.
dries; dried; drying
1
a
: to remove water or moisture from (something or someone) : to make (something or someone) dry
I'll wash the dishes if you dry them.
Make sure you dry your hands.
He dried himself with the towel.
Stop crying and dry your eyes.
b
: to make plates, dishes, pots, etc., dry by rubbing them with a towel
I'll wash and you dry, okay?
2
: to become dry
Your shirt is drying on the clothesline.
The paint dried overnight.
Cite this Entry
“Dry.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/dry. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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