Dry Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 5, 2024
Dry describes a state where there is no moisture, water, or liquid. It often refers to conditions, sensations, or objects devoid of wetness. e.g., After the sun came out, the clothes on the line became dry.
Table of Contents
Dry Definitions
Lacking moisture or not wet.
The desert is extremely dry.
Without a sense of humor.
He told the joke with a dry tone.
Characterized by a lack of rainfall.
Farmers struggled during the dry season.
Free from excess oil or grease.
She prefers shampoo for dry hair.
Free from liquid or moisture
Changed to dry clothes.
Having or characterized by little or no rain
A dry climate.
Marked by the absence of natural or normal moisture
A dry month.
Not under water
Dry land.
Having all the water or liquid drained away, evaporated, or exhausted
A dry river.
No longer yielding liquid, especially milk
A dry cow.
Not producing a liquid substance that is normally produced
Dry heaves.
Not shedding tears
Dry sobs.
Needing moisture or drink
A dry mouth.
No longer wet
The paint is dry.
Of or relating to solid rather than liquid substances or commodities
Dry weight.
Not sweet as a result of the decomposition of sugar during fermentation. Used of wines.
Having a large proportion of strong liquor to other ingredients
A dry martini.
Eaten or served without butter, gravy, or other garnish
Dry toast.
Dry meat.
Having no adornment or coloration; plain
The dry facts.
Devoid of bias or personal concern
Presented a dry critique.
Lacking tenderness, warmth, or involvement; severe
The actor gave a dry reading of the lines.
Matter-of-fact or indifferent in manner
Rattled off the facts in a dry mechanical tone.
Wearisome; dull
A dry lecture filled with trivial details.
Humorous in an understated or unemotional way
Dry wit.
Prohibiting or opposed to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages
A dry county.
Unproductive of the expected results
A mind dry of new ideas.
Constructed without mortar or cement
Dry masonry.
To remove the moisture from; make dry
Laundry dried by the sun.
To preserve (meat or other foods, for example) by extracting the moisture.
To become dry
The sheets dried quickly in the sun.
A prohibitionist.
Free from or lacking moisture.
This towel's dry. Could you wet it and cover the chicken so it doesn't go dry as it cooks?
Unable to produce a liquid, as water, (petrochemistry) oil, or (farming) milk.
This well is as dry as that cow.
(masonry) Built without or lacking mortar.
(chemistry) Anhydrous: free from or lacking water in any state, regardless of the presence of other liquids.
Dry alcohol is 200 proof.
(figurative) Athirst, eager.
Free from or lacking alcohol or alcoholic beverages.
Of course it's a dry house. He was an alcoholic but he's been dry for almost a year now.
(law) Describing an area where sales of alcoholic or strong alcoholic beverages are banned.
You'll have to drive out of this dry county to find any liquor.
Free from or lacking embellishment or sweetness, particularly:
Low in sugar; lacking sugar; unsweetened.
Proper martinis are made with London dry gin and dry vermouth.
(humor) Amusing without showing amusement.
Steven Wright has a deadpan delivery, Norm Macdonald has a dry sense of humor, and Oscar Wilde had a dry wit.
Lacking interest, boring.
A dry lecture may require the professor to bring a water gun in order to keep the students' attention.
(fine arts) Exhibiting precise execution lacking delicate contours or soft transitions of color.
(aviation) Not using afterburners or water injection for increased thrust.
This fighter jet's engine has a maximum dry thrust of 200 kilonewtons.
Involving computations rather than work with biological or chemical matter.
(of a sound recording) Free from applied audio effects (especially reverb).
Without a usual complement or consummation; impotent.
Never dry fire a bow
Dry humping her girlfriend
Making a dry run
Of a bite from an animal: not containing the usual venom.
(Christianity) Of a mass, service, or rite: involving neither consecration nor communion.
The process by which something is dried.
This towel is still damp: I think it needs another dry.
(US) A prohibitionist (of alcoholic beverages).
An area with little or no rain, or sheltered from it.
Come under my umbrella and keep in the dry.
The dry season.
(Australia) An area of waterless country.
Unsweetened ginger ale; dry ginger.
A radical or hard-line Conservative; especially, one who supported the policies of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s.
(intransitive) To lose moisture.
The clothes dried on the line.
(transitive) To remove moisture from.
Devin dried her eyes with a handkerchief.
To exhaust; to cause to run dry.
For an actor to forget his or her lines while performing.
Free from moisture; having little humidity or none; arid; not wet or moist; deficient in the natural or normal supply of moisture, as rain or fluid of any kind; - said especially: (a) Of the weather: Free from rain or mist.
The weather, we agreed, was too dry for the season.
Of vegetable matter: Free from juices or sap; not succulent; not green; as, dry wood or hay.
Give the dry fool drink.
Destitute of that which interests or amuses; barren; unembellished; jejune; plain.
These epistles will become less dry, more susceptible of ornament.
Of the eyes: Not shedding tears.
Not a dry eye was to be seen in the assembly.
Characterized by a quality somewhat severe, grave, or hard; hence, sharp; keen; shrewd; quaint; as, a dry tone or manner; dry wit.
He was rather a dry, shrewd kind of body.
Of certain morbid conditions, in which there is entire or comparative absence of moisture; as, dry gangrene; dry catarrh.
Exhibiting a sharp, frigid preciseness of execution, or the want of a delicate contour in form, and of easy transition in coloring.
The scientific man must keep his feelings under stern control, lest they obtrude into his researches, and color the dry light in which alone science desires to see its objects.
To make dry; to free from water, or from moisture of any kind, and by any means; to exsiccate; as, to dry the eyes; to dry one's tears; the wind dries the earth; to dry a wet cloth; to dry hay.
Their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
The water of the sea, which formerly covered it, was in time exhaled and dried up by the sun.
Their sources of revenue were dried up.
To grow dry; to become free from wetness, moisture, or juice; as, the road dries rapidly.
To evaporate wholly; to be exhaled; - said of moisture, or a liquid; - sometimes with up; as, the stream dries, or dries up.
To shrivel or wither; to lose vitality.
And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.
A reformer who opposes the use of intoxicating beverages
Remove the moisture from and make dry;
Dry clothes
Dry hair
Become dry or drier;
The laundry dries in the sun
Free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet;
Dry land
Dry clothes
A dry climate
Dry splintery boards
A dry river bed
The paint is dry
Humorously sarcastic or mocking;
Dry humor
An ironic remark often conveys an intended meaning obliquely
An ironic novel
An ironical smile
With a wry Scottish wit
Opposed to or prohibiting the production and sale of alcoholic beverages;
The dry vote led by preachers and bootleggers
A dry state
Not producing milk;
A dry cow
(of wines) not sweet because of decomposition of sugar during fermentation;
A dry white burgundy
Without a mucous or watery discharge;
A dry cough
That rare thing in the wintertime; a small child with a dry nose
Not shedding tears;
Dry sobs
With dry eyes
Lacking interest or stimulation; dull and lifeless;
A dry book
A dry lecture filled with trivial details
Dull and juiceless as only book knowledge can be when it is unrelated to...life
Used of solid substances in contrast with liquid ones;
Dry weight
Unproductive especially of the expected results;
A dry run
A mind dry of new ideas
Having no adornment or coloration;
Dry facts
Rattled off the facts in a dry mechanical manner
(of food) eaten without a spread or sauce or other garnish;
Dry toast
Dry meat
Suffering from fluid deprivation;
His mouth was dry
Having a large proportion of strong liquor;
A very dry martini is almost straight gin
Lacking warmth or emotional involvement;
A dry greeting
A dry reading of the lines
A dry critique
Practicing complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages;
He's been dry for ten years
No thank you; I happen to be teetotal
Having no rainfall or water.
This summer, the riverbed was completely dry.
Free from tears or emotions.
Her eyes were dry even though the movie was sad.
Devoid of adornment or unnecessary features.
His writing style is very dry and straightforward.
Uninteresting or dull.
The lecture was so dry that I almost fell asleep.
Referring to a prohibition of alcoholic drinks.
The town voted to remain a dry community.
Thoroughly; completely.
Wipe the surface dry after cleaning.
Dry Snonyms
Desiccated
Having had all moisture removed; dried up.
Desiccated coconut is used in many baking recipes.
Arid
Lacking in moisture, especially due to hot conditions.
The arid desert landscape stretched for miles.
Anhydrous
Without water.
Anhydrous ethanol contains no water molecules.
Dehydrated
Suffering from the removal or loss of water.
The hikers were dehydrated after their long trek.
Parched
Extremely dry or thirsty.
The plants were parched after the long, hot summer.
Thirsty
Feeling a need to drink something; indicative of a need for moisture.
The thirsty ground soaked up the rain quickly.
Sere
Dry and withered.
The sere leaves crunched underfoot in the autumn forest.
Moistureless
Without moisture; extremely dry.
The moistureless air in the cabin made breathing difficult.
Droughty
Characterized by dry conditions and lack of rain.
The droughty season severely impacted the crops.
Unwatered
Not watered; not irrigated.
The unwatered plants began to wilt and die.
Dry Idioms & Phrases
High and dry
To be left in a difficult or helpless situation.
After the company shut down without notice, many employees were left high and dry without a job.
Dry spell
A period of time without something, often used in the context of a lack of rain or a lack of success.
The team has been going through a dry spell, not winning any matches for months.
Out to dry
To abandon someone in a difficult situation, often betraying them.
After promising to support her, they left her out to dry during the critical negotiations.
Blood is thicker than water, but it still gets dry
Family bonds are strong, but they can still become strained or weakened.
They hadn't spoken in years, proving that blood is thicker than water, but it still gets dry.
Dry as a bone
Extremely dry, often used to describe climate, weather, or objects.
The desert was as dry as a bone, with not a drop of water in sight.
Dry run
A rehearsal or practice session, often used in the context of preparations.
Before the actual presentation, we did a dry run to ensure everything was perfect.
Dry humor
A form of humor marked by a matter-of-fact, deadpan, or ironic style, often delivered without emotion.
His dry humor often left people wondering whether he was joking or serious.
Dry-foot policy
A policy where one's status changes depending on whether they have reached land (often related to immigration or refugee status).
Under the dry-foot policy, refugees who reached the shore were allowed to stay.
Dry as dust
Extremely dull or boring.
The lecture was as dry as dust, putting half the audience to sleep.
Dry as a whistle
Completely dry.
After a day in the scorching sun, the soil was as dry as a whistle.
Keep one's powder dry
To be cautious and ready for a possible future event.
Even though things are going well, it's important to keep your powder dry for any unexpected challenges.
Dry argument
An argument that is dull and uninteresting, often overly factual without passion.
The debate turned into a dry argument about statistics, losing the audience's interest.
Dry reception
A social event without alcoholic beverages.
They decided to have a dry reception at their wedding to ensure a family-friendly environment.
Dry-eyed
Not showing emotion, especially not crying.
Despite the sad news, she remained dry-eyed and composed.
Dry plate
In photography, a glass plate coated with a gelatin emulsion used before modern film.
He collected vintage cameras and loved experimenting with old techniques like the dry plate process.
Dry wit
A form of humor characterized by sharp, incisive remarks delivered in a calm and unemotional way.
His dry wit was always a hit at parties, though sometimes his sarcasm was too subtle to catch.
A dry sense of humor
A form of humor delivered in a serious, subtle, or understated manner.
Her dry sense of humor often caught people off guard, as it was hard to tell if she was joking.
Dry as the Sahara
Exceptionally dry, comparing something to the Sahara Desert.
My throat was as dry as the Sahara after speaking for hours at the conference.
Dry goods
Products such as textiles, clothing, and sundries, as opposed to wet goods like fresh produce or meats.
We went to the general store to pick up some dry goods for our camping trip.
Dry Example Sentences
After washing your hands, make sure they are completely dry.
We walked through the dry, crackling leaves.
The paint must be dry before we touch it.
The cake turned out too dry and crumbly.
Make sure your boots are dry before you put them on.
The towels were stiff and dry from the sun.
His humor is so dry, it's sometimes hard to tell he's joking.
The dry weather is great for a picnic.
After blow-drying, her hair was perfectly dry and styled.
My throat feels dry; I need a glass of water.
During the dry spell, the garden needed extra watering.
Her dry, sarcastic remarks always make us laugh.
The river becomes dry every summer.
He gave a dry lecture on medieval history.
The artist's brush stroked across the dry canvas.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called dry?
"Dry" is called so because it originates from the Old English word "drȳge," meaning free from moisture.
How is dry used in a sentence?
Example: "The clothes are dry after being in the sun."
How do we divide dry into syllables?
As a single syllable word, "dry" is not divided into syllables.
What is the verb form of dry?
"Dry" itself can be used as a verb.
What is the first form of dry?
The first form (base form) of "dry" is "dry."
What is the root word of dry?
The root word of "dry" is the Old English "drȳge."
What is another term for dry?
Another term for "dry" is "arid."
How many syllables are in dry?
There is one syllable in "dry."
What is a stressed syllable in dry?
In "dry," the single syllable is stressed.
What part of speech is dry?
"Dry" can be an adjective or a verb, depending on the context.
What is the second form of dry?
The second form (past simple) of "dry" is "dried."
What is the plural form of dry?
"Dry" does not have a plural form as an adjective. As a verb, it doesn't change form for plural subjects.
Is dry a negative or positive word?
"Dry" is neutral; its connotation depends on the context.
Is the dry term a metaphor?
"Dry" can be used metaphorically, as in "dry humor."
Is the word “dry” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Dry" as a verb can have direct objects, as in "He dried the clothes."
What is the pronunciation of dry?
"Dry" is pronounced as /draɪ/.
Which vowel is used before dry?
Any vowel can precede "dry," depending on the context and the preceding word.
Is dry an abstract noun?
"Dry" is not a noun; it is an adjective or a verb.
Is dry a countable noun?
"Dry" is not a noun, so it is neither countable nor uncountable.
Is dry a collective noun?
No, "dry" is not a collective noun.
Is the word dry Gerund?
The gerund form of "dry" is "drying."
Is dry a vowel or consonant?
"Dry" is a word, not a single vowel or consonant.
Is the word dry imperative?
"Dry" can be used in the imperative form, as in "Dry the dishes."
Which preposition is used with dry?
Prepositions like "out" (as in "dry out") are commonly used with "dry."
Which article is used with dry?
The article used with "dry" depends on the context; "the" or "a/an" can be used.
What is the third form of dry?
The third form (past participle) of "dry" is "dried."
What is the singular form of dry?
The singular form is "dry."
What is the opposite of dry?
The opposite of "dry" is "wet."
Is dry a noun or adjective?
"Dry" is primarily an adjective, but it can also be used as a verb.
Is dry an adverb?
No, "dry" is not typically used as an adverb.
Which determiner is used with dry?
Determiners like "a," "the," or "this" can be used with "dry" depending on the context.
Which conjunction is used with dry?
Conjunctions such as "and," "but," or "or" can be used with "dry," depending on the sentence.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
