noun
Uncommon
Dryer
Dryer (noun) means a machine that removes moisture from clothes, hair, or other items by heat or airflow. Example: “She threw the wet towels straight into the dryer.”
noun
1
A machine that removes moisture from clothes, hair, or other items by heat or airflow.
"She threw the wet towels straight into the dryer."
"He used a hairdryer to dry his hair after the shower."
How to use Dryer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA machine used for drying things, most commonly clothes or hair.
Common mistake
"Dryer" is normally the machine (clothes dryer), while "drier" is the comparative of the adjective "dry" (this towel is drier than that one) — though both spellings sometimes overlap.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
tumble dryer
hair dryer
clothes dryer
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Word forms
- Plural
- Dryers
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She threw the wet towels straight into the _____.
Etymology
Comes from Middle English driere or dreyere (“one who dries”), equivalent to dry plus -er, the agent noun suffix.
Synonyms
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tumble dryer
drier
Related words
Rhymes for Dryer
See all rhymes for Dryer →Frequently asked questions
What does “Dryer” mean?
The word “Dryer” means a machine that removes moisture from clothes, hair, or other items by heat or airflow. In plain terms, a machine used for drying things, most commonly clothes or hair.
How do you use “Dryer” in a sentence?
Here is “Dryer” used in a sentence: “She threw the wet towels straight into the dryer.”
What part of speech is “Dryer”?
“Dryer” is a noun.
Is “Dryer” a common word?
“Dryer” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between a dryer and a drier?
Dryer and drier can both refer to the machine that removes moisture from clothes or hair, though 'dryer' is the more common spelling for the noun in modern usage, especially in American English. 'Drier' is also used as the comparative form of the adjective 'dry,' as in 'today is drier than yesterday.'
Is dryer capitalized when referring to the appliance?
No, dryer is a common noun and is written in lowercase when referring to a clothes dryer or hair dryer, unless it begins a sentence or is part of a brand name.
What types of dryer are there?
Common types include the clothes dryer, which removes moisture from laundry using heat and tumbling airflow, and the hair dryer, which uses heated air to dry hair. Both work on the same basic principle of applying heat and airflow to evaporate moisture.
