dry
A1Neutral; common in all registers from casual to formal.
Definition
Meaning
Free from moisture or liquid; not wet.
Describes an absence of moisture, a dull/boring quality, a lack of emotion or warmth, a prohibition of alcohol (dry county), or producing no liquid (dry well).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a stative adjective but functions as an inchoative verb ('to become dry'). Can describe weather, objects, humour, wine, and legal status.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In BrE, 'dry' for humour often implies subtle, understated, witty sarcasm. In AmE, it can simply mean 'boring'. The term 'dry county' (where alcohol sales are banned) is primarily AmE.
Connotations
BrE slightly stronger connotation of sophisticated, sharp wit when describing humour/person. AmE connotation for 'dry humour' can be closer to 'deadpan'.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both dialects. 'Dry up' (verb) meaning to stop talking is common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] dries[NP] dried [NP][NP] dry out/off/up[NP] is/get dryVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “dry run (rehearsal)”
- “high and dry (abandoned)”
- “dry as a bone”
- “dry spell (period without success/rain)”
- “leave someone high and dry”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'We need a dry run of the presentation before the client meeting.' (rehearsal)
Academic
The region experienced a prolonged dry period, impacting agricultural yields.
Everyday
Hang your towel on the radiator to dry.
Technical
Apply the coating to a completely dry surface. (Chemistry/Construction)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I'll dry the dishes with this tea towel.
- The river can dry up completely in summer.
American English
- Can you dry the car after you wash it?
- Her funding dried up, so the project stopped.
adverb
British English
- Hang the washing out to dry.
American English
- The paint needs to dry completely before sanding.
adjective
British English
- We're hoping for a dry day for the picnic.
- He's famous for his very dry wit.
American English
- My skin gets really dry in the winter.
- It's a dry county, so you can't buy alcohol here.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The clothes are dry now.
- I like dry weather.
- Please dry your hands.
- After the flood, it took weeks for the streets to dry out.
- She prefers a dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc.
- The comedian's dry delivery had the audience in stitches.
- A long dry spell has forced farmers to irrigate more.
- The agreement was couched in dry, legalistic language that belied its significance.
- His enthusiasm for the project had long since dried up.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DRIed up lake (DRY) with a big 'Y' shaped crack in the earth.
Conceptual Metaphor
LACK OF MOISTURE IS LACK OF INTEREST/LIFE (e.g., dry lecture, dry period in a career).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate 'dry humour' as 'сухой юмор'. Use 'скрытый', 'ироничный', or 'саркастичный'.
- 'Dry county' does not relate to climate; it's a legal term. Use 'безалкогольный округ'.
- Avoid using 'dry' for a person's character ('сухой человек') to mean unfriendly. In English, it primarily describes humour.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dryly' incorrectly as an adjective ('He spoke in a dryly tone'). Correct: 'He spoke dryly.' or 'He had a dry tone.'
- Confusing 'dry' (adj/verb) with 'dried' (past tense/adj for processed food: dried fruit).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'dry run' typically mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but carefully. It usually describes their humour (dry wit) or manner of speaking (dry delivery). Calling someone 'dry' without context can be ambiguous and sound negative (boring).
'Dry' is the base adjective/verb. 'Dried' is the past tense/participle of the verb ('I dried my hair') or an adjective for things from which moisture has been removed as a process ('dried herbs', 'dried milk').
No. Its core meaning is 'without moisture', but it has many extensions: humour (understated), alcohol-free, boring (dry lecture), and even technical uses (dry socket, dry cell battery).
It's a phrasal verb meaning 1) to become completely dry ('The well dried up'), 2) to stop talking ('He suddenly dried up on stage'), or 3) to disappear/cease ('Supplies dried up').
Collections
Part of a collection
Weather
A2 · 45 words · Describing the weather, climate and seasons.