noun
dregs
drehgz
Dregs (noun) means the gritty sediment that settles at the bottom of a drink, especially unfiltered wine or coffee. Example: “She tipped out the last of her coffee, dregs and all.”
noun
1
The gritty sediment that settles at the bottom of a drink, especially unfiltered wine or coffee.
"She tipped out the last of her coffee, dregs and all."
"The wine bottle had left dregs at the bottom of the glass."
2
The most worthless or lowest part of something, especially people.
"He called the gang the dregs of society."
How to use dregs
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe leftover bits at the bottom of a drink, or (as an insult) the worst people in a group.
Common mistake
Always used as a plural — there is no singular "dreg" in modern use.
Common pairings
the dregs of society
coffee dregs
to the dregs
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Word forms
- Singular
- dreg
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She tipped out the last of her coffee, _____ and all.
Etymology
From an old Scandinavian-derived word meaning sediment, related to the sludge left in a barrel of drink.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for dregs
See all rhymes for dregs →Frequently asked questions
What does “dregs” mean?
The word “dregs” means the gritty sediment that settles at the bottom of a drink, especially unfiltered wine or coffee. In plain terms, the leftover bits at the bottom of a drink, or (as an insult) the worst people in a group.
How do you pronounce “dregs”?
“Dregs” is pronounced drehgz (/dɹɛɡz/ in IPA).
How do you use “dregs” in a sentence?
Here is “dregs” used in a sentence: “She tipped out the last of her coffee, dregs and all.”
What is another word for “dregs”?
Words with a similar meaning to “dregs” include debris, deposit, draff, dross, exuviate and feculence.
What part of speech is “dregs”?
“Dregs” is a noun.
How many meanings does “dregs” have?
“Dregs” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the gritty sediment that settles at the bottom of a drink, especially unfiltered wine or coffee.
