drizzle
B1Informal to neutral.
Definition
Meaning
Light rain falling in very fine, mist-like drops.
To pour or sprinkle a liquid lightly and finely over something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, describes precipitation; as a verb, describes a gentle action of pouring or the occurrence of light rain.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both noun and verb are standard in both dialects. No significant difference in meaning.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British English to describe typical light rain; in American English, often used metaphorically (e.g., drizzle sauce).
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK due to climate; used frequently in US culinary contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
It drizzles.Drizzle (sth) over/on sth.Drizzle sth with sth.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sunshine and showers (with drizzle being the typical 'shower')”
- “Not a drizzle (not even a small amount)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in hospitality/tourism (e.g., 'weather may include drizzle').
Academic
Used in meteorology and climate studies.
Everyday
Common for describing weather and in cooking instructions.
Technical
Meteorological term for precipitation of intensity < 0.5 mm/hr.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- It's been drizzling on and off all day.
- Drizzle the gravy lightly over the roast.
American English
- It started to drizzle just as we left.
- Drizzle the icing over the warm cinnamon rolls.
adverb
British English
- Rarely used.
American English
- Rarely used.
adjective
British English
- A drizzly afternoon called for a hot cup of tea.
- We abandoned the walk in the drizzly conditions.
American English
- The forecast is for a drizzly morning, clearing later.
- It was one of those gray, drizzly days.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- It is drizzling outside.
- I like drizzle on my cake.
- The drizzle made the roads slippery.
- Drizzle a little lemon juice over the fish.
- A persistent drizzle had settled in for the day, dampening everyone's spirits.
- The chef finished the dish by drizzling a balsamic reduction around the plate.
- The meteorological station recorded over six hours of continuous, fine drizzle.
- Her technique involved drizzling the infused oil in a slow, deliberate spiral.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Drizzle is like a fizzy drink spray – light and fine.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRECIPITATION IS A LIQUID CONDIMENT (e.g., 'The sky drizzled over the city').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'моросить' (impersonal verb) – English uses 'It drizzles' or 'It is drizzling'.
- Not equivalent to 'изморось' (noun) which is rarer and more technical.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'drizzle' for heavy rain.
- Incorrect verb pattern: 'I drizzle the salad' (needs preposition: 'I drizzle oil *over* the salad').
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is the LEAST likely description of 'drizzle'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Drizzle is much lighter than rain, with smaller, mist-like drops and lower intensity.
No, it is very commonly used as a verb in cooking and crafting for pouring a thin stream of liquid.
Yes, it is a common word in everyday English, especially in the UK and in cooking contexts globally.
'Drizzly' (e.g., a drizzly day).