1
a
: free or relatively free from a liquid and especially water
Mix the dry ingredients first.
as dry as a bone
b
: not being in or under water
happy to be on dry land
c
meteorology
: lacking precipitation or humidity
a dry climate
2
a
: characterized by exhaustion of a supply of liquid
a dry well
b
geology
: devoid of running water
a dry ravine
c
: devoid of natural moisture
My throat was dry.
dry leaves
d
: no longer sticky or damp
The paint isn't dry yet.
e
: not giving milk
a dry cow
f
: lacking freshness : stale
g
chemistry
: anhydrous
3
a
: marked by the absence or scantiness of secretions
a dry cough
b
: not shedding or accompanied by tears
a dry sob
4
obsolete
: involving no bloodshed or drowning
I would fain die a dry death—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare5
a
: marked by the absence of alcoholic beverages
a dry party
b
: prohibiting the manufacture or distribution of alcoholic beverages
a dry county
6
: served or eaten without butter or margarine
dry toast
7
alcohol
a
: lacking sweetness : sec
dry champagne
b
: having all or most sugar fermented to alcohol
a dry wine
dry beer
8
a
: solid as opposed to liquid
dry groceries
b
: reduced to powder or flakes : dehydrated
dry milk
c
: dealing in dry goods or other nonperishable items
After breakfast, we head to the wet market along Graham Street in Hong Kong. The wet market sells foodstuffs; the adjacent dry market offers clothes, shoes, and other retail items.—Rudy Maxa
Rudy Maxa9
: functioning without lubrication
a dry clutch
10
of natural gas
: containing no recoverable hydrocarbon (such as gasoline)
11
: requiring no liquid in preparation or operation
a dry photocopying process
12
a
: not showing or communicating warmth, enthusiasm, or tender feeling : severe
a dry style of painting
b
: wearisome, uninteresting
dry passages of description
a dry lecturer
c
: lacking embellishment : plain
13
a
: not yielding what is expected or desired : unproductive
a writer going through a dry spell
b
: having no personal bias or emotional concern
the dry light of reason
14
: marked by matter-of-fact, ironic, or terse manner of expression
a dry wit
has a very dry sense of humor
15
: lacking smooth sound qualities
a dry rasping voice
16
: being a dry run
a dry rehearsal
dried; drying
: to make dry (see dry entry 1)
drying her hair
: to become dry
waiting for the paint to dry
plural drys
1
: the condition of being dry (see dry entry 1) : dryness
2
: something dry
especially
: a dry place
3
Synonyms
Examples of dry in a Sentence
Adjective
Mix the dry ingredients first, then add the milk and eggs.
the dry heat of the desert
We tried to stay dry in the rain by standing under a tree.
The stream is bone dry.
Are the clothes dry yet?
The paint should be dry in a few hours.
a stretch of dry weather
a country with a very dry climate
This plant does well in dry conditions.
The chicken was dry and tasteless.
Verb
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.
I'll wash and you dry, okay?
Your shirt is drying on the clothesline.
Recent Examples on the WebParker Mancino, arkansasonline.com, 8 Apr. 2024
That cheese is too dry and crumbly to make a spreadable pimiento cheese.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2024
There are now bigger swings between intense hot, dry conditions and cold, wet ones.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Led by a standout performance by Michael Douglas, the stellar cast ensures the show is never dry, and at times verges on being a light-hearted romp.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
Perhaps the biggest disappointment, however, has been the painfully slow progress made with Tesla’s vaunted next-generation 4680 cells and its related failure to reach scale with its innovative dry battery electrode coating, a game changer in terms of capital expenditure and manufacturing cost.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Amazon shoppers — as well as Travel + Leisure’s own Senior Editor — say this ankle-high platform Hunter Play Boot is the ultimate solution to keeping your feet dry on a trip.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2024
The river’s flow has declined dramatically since 2000, and research has shown that global warming worsened the long stretch of extremely dry years through 2022.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
Image To counter that figurative and literal erosion, the city has installed giant gates at four mouths of the lagoon to keep seawater out and pavements dry, and banned cruise ships from the inner canals.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
In addition to trapping moisture, waffle cloths dry quickly compared to other weaves.
—Jenna Clark, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2024
Not only are lips prone to skin cancer, but also the sun’s UV rays can dry them out.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
Detained and handcuffed while medics tried to save Christian's life, Courtney sat on the balcony of the $10,000-a-month waterfront apartment as her boyfriend's blood dried on her face, chest, stomach, arms and sweatpants.
—Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
The ink had barely dried on Enfield’s new deal in Dallas before Cohen was flying to Fayetteville on a private plane to pick up her new coach.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
These laps won’t count for the race, and non-competitive pit stops will be made once pit road is dried.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2024
The dough will stretch there before being hung out in the sun to dry like laundry – part of a centuries-old process that has been passed down through generations.
—Laura Fornell, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Mar. 2024
By the time the river hit a record low in 2002, Las Vegas had begun taking aggressive water-saving measures to meet population growth and adapt to a drying river.
—Daniel Rothberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 10 Jan. 2024
This Revlon hot air brush blow dries, styles, and smooths simultaneously to give you a salon-worthy blowout at home.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2023
Unfold and glue the two end pieces together to form a bell (use a paper clip to hold the pieces together until the glue dries).
—Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Nov. 2023
Add sprinkles quickly: Make sure to sprinkle before the coating dries.
—Pam Lolley, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2023
However, after the disinfectant dries, food-contact surfaces should typically be rinsed with a wet rag or paper towel.
—Jessica Comstock, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2023
Thinking about skipping the blow dries or leaving your flat iron at home?
—Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2023
In this case, the glue will act as the main hold while the screws essentially serve as clamps until the adhesive dries.
—Jean Levasseur, Popular Science, 26 July 2023
The drupe fruit contains a small pit in the middle exposed when the fleshy exterior dries and splits open.
—USA TODAY, 4 July 2023
Adjective
The officer investigating the crash reported that the weather was clear and the road was dry at the time.
—Parker Mancino, arkansasonline.com, 8 Apr. 2024
That cheese is too dry and crumbly to make a spreadable pimiento cheese.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2024
There are now bigger swings between intense hot, dry conditions and cold, wet ones.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Led by a standout performance by Michael Douglas, the stellar cast ensures the show is never dry, and at times verges on being a light-hearted romp.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
Perhaps the biggest disappointment, however, has been the painfully slow progress made with Tesla’s vaunted next-generation 4680 cells and its related failure to reach scale with its innovative dry battery electrode coating, a game changer in terms of capital expenditure and manufacturing cost.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Amazon shoppers — as well as Travel + Leisure’s own Senior Editor — say this ankle-high platform Hunter Play Boot is the ultimate solution to keeping your feet dry on a trip.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2024
The river’s flow has declined dramatically since 2000, and research has shown that global warming worsened the long stretch of extremely dry years through 2022.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
Image To counter that figurative and literal erosion, the city has installed giant gates at four mouths of the lagoon to keep seawater out and pavements dry, and banned cruise ships from the inner canals.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Verb
These days, most stylists require clients to send a deposit and come washed and blow dried ahead of the appointment.
—Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
In addition to trapping moisture, waffle cloths dry quickly compared to other weaves.
—Jenna Clark, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2024
Not only are lips prone to skin cancer, but also the sun’s UV rays can dry them out.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
Detained and handcuffed while medics tried to save Christian's life, Courtney sat on the balcony of the $10,000-a-month waterfront apartment as her boyfriend's blood dried on her face, chest, stomach, arms and sweatpants.
—Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
The ink had barely dried on Enfield’s new deal in Dallas before Cohen was flying to Fayetteville on a private plane to pick up her new coach.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
These laps won’t count for the race, and non-competitive pit stops will be made once pit road is dried.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2024
The dough will stretch there before being hung out in the sun to dry like laundry – part of a centuries-old process that has been passed down through generations.
—Laura Fornell, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Mar. 2024
By the time the river hit a record low in 2002, Las Vegas had begun taking aggressive water-saving measures to meet population growth and adapt to a drying river.
—Daniel Rothberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
Noun
As summer gives way to fall, the growth slows, then comes to a halt, and the velvet dies and dries.
—Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 10 Jan. 2024
This Revlon hot air brush blow dries, styles, and smooths simultaneously to give you a salon-worthy blowout at home.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2023
Unfold and glue the two end pieces together to form a bell (use a paper clip to hold the pieces together until the glue dries).
—Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Nov. 2023
Add sprinkles quickly: Make sure to sprinkle before the coating dries.
—Pam Lolley, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2023
However, after the disinfectant dries, food-contact surfaces should typically be rinsed with a wet rag or paper towel.
—Jessica Comstock, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2023
Thinking about skipping the blow dries or leaving your flat iron at home?
—Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2023
In this case, the glue will act as the main hold while the screws essentially serve as clamps until the adhesive dries.
—Jean Levasseur, Popular Science, 26 July 2023
The drupe fruit contains a small pit in the middle exposed when the fleshy exterior dries and splits open.
—USA TODAY, 4 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dry.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective, Verb, and Noun
Middle English, from Old English drȳge; akin to Old High German truckan dry, Old English drēahnian to drain
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of dry was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing dry
Dictionary Entries Near dry
Cite this Entry
“Dry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dry. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
dry
1 of 3 adjective
drier
ˈdrī(-ə)r
; driest
ˈdrī-əst
1
: free or nearly free from liquid and especially water
dry weight
dry steam
2
: characterized by loss or lack of water: as
a
: lacking precipitation and humidity
a dry climate
b
: lacking freshness : stale
c
: low in or deprived of natural juices or moisture
dry hay
a dry fruit
3
: not being in or under water
dry land
4
a
b
: marked by the absence of alcoholic beverages
a dry party
c
: no longer damp or sticky
the paint is dry
5
: containing or using no liquid (as water)
a dry creek
dry heat
6
: not giving milk
a dry cow
7
: not producing phlegm
dry cough
8
: not producing or yielding what is expected or wanted
a dry oil well
9
: marked by a matter-of-fact, ironic, or terse manner of expression
dry humor
10
: failing to arouse interest or enthusiasm
a dry lecture
11
: not sweet
dry wines
12
: relating to, favoring, or practicing prohibition of alcoholic beverages
a dry county
dryly
adverb
or drily
dryness
noun
dry
2 of 3 verb
dried; drying
: to make or become dry
Medical Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on dry
Nglish: Translation of dry for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of dry for Arabic Speakers
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