dry
DREYE
Dry (adj) means Free from moisture; not wet. Example: “Make sure the paint is completely dry before hanging the picture.”
adj
1
Free from moisture; not wet.
"Make sure the paint is completely dry before hanging the picture."
"The desert air was hot and dry all afternoon."
"Hang the washing out while the weather stays dry."
2
Lacking or forbidding alcohol.
"They held a dry wedding reception with no alcohol served."
"The county stayed dry long after Prohibition ended elsewhere."
"My brother has been dry for a year and says he feels much healthier."
3
Not sweet, especially describing wine.
"He prefers a dry white wine with fish."
"The waiter recommended a dry sherry to go with the starter."
"Dry sparkling wines pair well with salty snacks."
4
Amusing in a deadpan, understated way; also, plainly boring.
"Her dry sense of humour caught the whole room off guard."
"The lecture was so dry that half the class fell asleep."
"His dry reply made everyone laugh, though he never cracked a smile."
verb
1
To remove moisture from something, or to lose moisture.
"Hang the towels outside to dry in the sun."
"The riverbed dries up completely by late summer."
"Please dry the dishes while I put the kettle on."
noun
1
A period or region with little or no rainfall.
"Farmers struggled through the long dry that summer."
"Crops failed after a prolonged dry in the region."
"The dry had left the lake almost empty."
How to use dry
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWithout water or moisture — and, by extension, without alcohol, sweetness, or emotional expression (as in dry humour).
Common pairings
bone dry
dry sense of humour
dry spell
dry wine
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Word forms
- Plural
- drys, dries
- Third person singular
- dries
- Past tense
- dried
- Comparative
- drier, dryer
- Superlative
- driest, dryest
- Archaic forms
- driest, drieth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Make sure the paint is completely _____ before hanging the picture.
Etymology
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".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “dry” mean?
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).
How do you pronounce “dry”?
“Dry” is pronounced DREYE (/ˈdɹaɪ̯/ in IPA).
How do you use “dry” in a sentence?
Here is “dry” used in a sentence: “Make sure the paint is completely dry before hanging the picture.”
What is another word for “dry”?
Words with a similar meaning to “dry” include anhydrous, arid, bone dry, droughty, dry as a bone and exsuccous.
What is the opposite of “dry”?
The opposite of “dry” — its antonyms — is wet.
What part of speech is “dry”?
Depending on how it is used, “dry” can be an adjective, a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “dry” come from?
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".
Is “dry” a common word?
“Dry” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between dry and arid?
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.
What is the opposite of dry?
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.
Does dry always refer to water?
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.
What is an example of something dry?
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.
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