dry
dry
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "dry" is /draɪ/.
draɪ
/d/ - voiceless alveolar stop
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/aɪ/ - diphthong (as in "sky")
Word Form Variations
Adjective: dry, drier, driest
Verb: dry, dries, drying, dried
Noun: dry (less common, usually referring to a period of dryness)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition 1: Free from moisture or liquid; not wet or damp.
Synonyms: arid, parched, desiccated, dehydrated
Antonyms: wet, moist, damp, humid
Example: The clothes were completely dry after hanging in the sun.
Definition 2: Lacking in interest, excitement, or emotion; dull.
Synonyms: boring, uninteresting, monotonous, tedious, flat, stark
Antonyms: interesting, exciting, lively, engaging, vivid
Example: The speaker delivered a rather dry lecture on ancient history.
Definition 3: (Of humor) Subtle and understated, often with an ironic or sarcastic tone.
Synonyms: understated, subtle, laconic, ironic, sarcastic, deadpan
Antonyms: obvious, overt, boisterous, effusive
Example: His dry wit often went over people's heads.
Definition 4: (Of wine or other alcoholic beverages) Not sweet; having little or no residual sugar.
Synonyms: unsweet, tart, crisp
Antonyms: sweet, sugary
Example: She preferred a dry white wine with her meal.
Verb
Definition 1: To make or become free from moisture or liquid.
Synonyms: dehydrate, desiccate, evaporate, parch, shrivel, wipe
Antonyms: wet, dampen, moisten, soak
Example: He used a towel to dry his hair.
Example: The riverbed dried up during the drought.
Noun
Definition 1: A period or state of being without moisture.
Synonyms: drought, aridity, desiccation
Antonyms: wetness, humidity, dampness
Example: The farmers were hoping for rain after a long dry.
Examples of Use
Books:
"The air was dry and hot, carrying the scent of dust and distant sagebrush." (From The Martian by Andy Weir, February 2014)
"Her sense of humor was notoriously dry, often catching people off guard." (From Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, August 2018)
Newspapers:
"Concerns are mounting over the increasingly dry conditions in the region, threatening agricultural yields." (Associated Press)
"Analysts warned of a dry spell for the stock market, with little growth expected in the coming quarter." ( The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications:
"Tips for keeping your skin hydrated in dry winter weather." (Healthline)
"The article offered a rather dry analysis of the economic data, but was thorough." ( Vox)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Show: "That was a pretty dry performance, even for him," remarked a judge on America's Got Talent after a comedian's set (aired July 2024).
Movie Review: "Despite the stunning visuals, the plot felt a bit dry and lacked emotional depth." ( Rotten Tomatoes review for a recent sci-fi film, June 2024)
Song Lyrics: "We were left high and dry when the well ran out." (From the song "High and Dry" by Radiohead, March 1995)
Podcast: "Our guest today offers a dry but insightful take on the current political landscape." ( The Daily by The New York Times, April 2024)
General Public Discourse:
"Could you please put these dishes away once they're dry?" (Common household request)
"I'm going to have a dry January this year to kickstart my healthy habits." (Often heard in conversations about New Year's resolutions)
"The comedian's jokes were so dry, they were almost academic." (A comment overheard after a stand-up show)
10 Quotes Using Dry
"When the well is dry, we know the worth of water." (Benjamin Franklin)
"What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?" (Langston Hughes, "Harlem")
"Inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that is where I renew my springs that never dry up." (Pearl S. Buck)
"Keep your faith in God, but keep your powder dry." (Oliver Cromwell)
"A sincere diplomat is like dry water or wooden iron." (Joseph Stalin)
"Investing should be more like watching paint dry or watching grass grow. If you want excitement, take $800 and go to Las Vegas." (Paul Samuelson)
"Tears may be dried up, but the heart - never." (Margaret of Valois)
"People get so in the habit of worry that if you save them from drowning and put them on a bank to dry in the sun with hot chocolate and muffins they wonder whether they are catching cold." (John Jay Chapman)
"In civilizations without boats, dreams dry up, espionage takes the place of adventure and the police take the place of pirates." (Michel Foucault)
"He was white and shaken, like a dry martini." (P.G. Wodehouse)
Etymology
The word "dry" has a long history, going back to the very earliest stages of the English language.
It comes from Old English (the form of English spoken before about 1150 AD) as the word "drȳġe." This Old English word already meant "without moisture" or "parched," which is very similar to our main understanding of "dry" today.
It's actually a word that's been inherited from a much older language family called Germanic. This means that "dry" has relatives in other Germanic languages like Dutch (droog) and German (trocken), all sharing a common ancestor that had a word for being without moisture.
So, in simple terms, the word "dry" has been around for at least a thousand years, and its original meaning was pretty much the same as what we understand it to mean now: free from water or liquid. It quickly developed into both an adjective (describing something that is dry) and a verb (to make something dry).
Phrases + Idioms Containing Dry
Bone dry: Extremely dry.
Dry spell: A period without rain, or a period of little activity or success.
Dry run: A rehearsal or practice session.
Dry humor: Understated, often ironic humor.
Dry up: To stop talking, to stop flowing (like a well), or to cease to exist.
Leave someone high and dry: To abandon someone in a difficult situation without help.
Not a dry eye in the house: Everyone present is crying.
Dry out: To remove moisture, or to undergo treatment for alcohol addiction.
Dry goods: Foodstuffs like flour, sugar, and pasta that are not liquid.
Drier than a popcorn fart: (Informal, humorous) Extremely dry.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of dry from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
