Dry Definition & Meaning
dry
- adjective
- free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet; "dry land"; "dry clothes"; "a dry climate"; "dry splintery boards"; "a dry river bed"; "the paint is dry"
- humorously sarcastic or mocking; "dry humor"; "an ironic remark often conveys an intended meaning obliquely"; "an ironic novel"; "an ironical smile"; "with a wry Scottish wit"
- lacking moisture or volatile components; "dry paint"
- opposed to or prohibiting the production and sale of alcoholic beverages; "the dry vote led by preachers and bootleggers"; "a dry state"
- not producing milk; "a dry cow"
- (of liquor) having a low residual sugar content because of decomposition of sugar during fermentation; "a dry white burgundy"; "a dry Bordeaux"
- without a mucous or watery discharge; "a dry cough"; "that rare thing in the wintertime; a small child with a dry nose"
- not shedding tears; "dry sobs"; "with dry eyes"
- lacking interest or stimulation; dull and lifeless; "a dry book"; "a dry lecture filled with trivial details"; "dull and juiceless as only book knowledge can be when it is unrelated to...life"- John Mason Brown
- used of solid substances in contrast with liquid ones; "dry weight"
- unproductive especially of the expected results; "a dry run"; "a mind dry of new ideas"
- having no adornment or coloration; "dry facts"; "rattled off the facts in a dry mechanical manner"
- (of food) eaten without a spread or sauce or other garnish; "dry toast"; "dry meat"
- having a large proportion of strong liquor; "a very dry martini is almost straight gin"
- lacking warmth or emotional involvement; "a dry greeting"; "a dry reading of the lines"; "a dry critique"
- practicing complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages; "he's been dry for ten years"; "no thank you; I happen to be teetotal"
- noun
- a reformer who opposes the use of intoxicating beverages
- verb
- remove the moisture from and make dry; "dry clothes"; "dry hair"
- become dry or drier; "The laundry dries in the sun"
"Dry" in song lyrics
See how dry is used in real songs:
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"All kings hang em for the cliffs side drip dry"
Aesop Rock — No City -
"Now my bank account's dry"
Afroman — Just My Paranoia -
"Everybody drink until the well runs dry"
Almeen — Standing Alone
Words that rhyme with dry
Usage tips for "dry"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "dry" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for dry to find words that pair well.
Use "dry" in a verse
Now that you know what "dry" means, try using it in your own lyrics:
Generate a verse