dry

The word “dry” means free from moisture; not wet. In plain terms, without water or moisture — and, by extension, without alcohol, sweetness, or emotional expression (as in dry humour).

“Dry” is pronounced DREYE (/ˈdɹaɪ̯/ in IPA).

Here is “dry” used in a sentence: “Make sure the paint is completely dry before hanging the picture.”

Words with a similar meaning to “dry” include anhydrous, arid, bone dry, droughty, dry as a bone and exsuccous.

The opposite of “dry” — its antonyms — is wet.

Depending on how it is used, “dry” can be an adjective, a verb and a noun.

The word “dry” comes from Old English. From Old English drȳge, related to Old Norse and German words meaning "dry" or "hard" — going back to a very old root meaning "to become firm or solid".

“Dry” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

Dry simply means free from moisture and can describe anything — a towel, the air, or the ground. Arid is more specific and usually describes climate or land that is extremely dry, receiving very little rainfall. All arid places are dry, but not everything dry is arid.

The main opposite of dry is wet, meaning covered or soaked with liquid. Depending on the context, damp, moist, and humid also serve as opposites, each describing a different degree of moisture. Damp and moist suggest slight wetness, while humid refers to moisture held in the air.

In its core sense, dry means free from moisture, usually water. However, the word stretches to other meanings — a dry sense of humour, a dry wine, or a dry topic. These figurative uses borrow the idea of something lacking a particular quality, such as sweetness, emotion, or interest.

A desert is a classic example, with little rain and parched ground. Everyday examples include a towel fresh from the dryer, sun-baked soil, or clothes left out in the sun. Anything that contains no noticeable moisture — from crackers to autumn leaves — can accurately be described as dry.