dry

USAGE SUMMARY

"dry" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as an adjective to describe something that has no liquid or moisture. For example: "The desert was dry and hot."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Derided as a buffoonish figure of fun for attempting to keep dry while his England team failed to qualify for Euro 2008, McClaren is currently attracting far less media attention for steering Derby County to fourth from 14th in the Championship after a run of just two defeats in 15 matches since he replaced Nigel Clough in September.

The Guardian - Sport

Even before the ink was dry on devoManc, Leese went public.

The Guardian

Tom Corfield, a Bristol engineering graduate, recalls: "My lectures were often a bit dry and I have lots of broader interests, so I started going to my friends' lectures in different subject areas.

The Guardian

Today, Thoronka washes his set of spare clothes in the public toilets and then spreads them out on the grass in the park to dry.

The Guardian

It should now be accepted that journalists are entitled to protect their sources of information, otherwise that information will dry up and there will be less public interest information, such as the hacking of Milly Dowler's phone".

The Guardian

The next day, remove the chicken from the wine and pat dry, then set aside.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Many city tours are either generic, big-group walks – in which you are fed dry facts with no particular theme – or super-cheesy, "we're-not-like-the-other-tours" experiences, where you are guided by someone wearing a trilby and strumming a ukelele while telling tales of local cult legends.

The Guardian - Travel

"You don't give money to the adults, just little kids," my mother told me over the phone as she was running errands, dry and unwhipped, in Pennsylvania.

The Guardian

Belle and Sebastian: Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance Once considered shorthand for anything twee and indie, Belle and Sebastian throw disco flourishes and dry humour into this ninth studio album.

The Guardian - Music

Well now it's all going dry," McGuire said.

The Guardian

Alcohol and other drugs were having a heavy impact on Indigenous life expectancy, and measures such as "dry zones", which banned alcohol in areas where people congregated to drink, were stopgap strategies that only harmed people in the long run, Wilson told Guardian Australia.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing climate conditions, consider using "dry" in conjunction with other adjectives like "hot" or "cold" to provide a more comprehensive picture, for example, "a hot and dry desert climate".

Common error

Avoid using "dry" repetitively in descriptive writing. Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like "arid", "parched", or "desiccated" to maintain reader engagement and add nuance to your descriptions.

Linguistic Context

The word "dry" primarily functions as an adjective, describing a state of lacking moisture. Ludwig confirms its correct usage. It can also function as a verb, meaning to remove moisture, or as a noun, referring to a prohibitionist.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Lifestyle

25%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Travel

8%

Books

5%

Music

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "dry" is a versatile term primarily used as an adjective to describe the absence of moisture. According to Ludwig, it's considered grammatically correct and is frequently found in diverse contexts such as news, lifestyle, and sports reporting. While generally neutral in tone, varying your vocabulary when using "dry" can enhance your writing. Common errors include overuse and neglecting to consider context-specific synonyms. Its frequency is very common across varied media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

parched

Suggests extreme dryness, often used to describe land or throat feeling very thirsty.

arid

Implies a prolonged lack of rainfall, often associated with deserts or barren landscapes.

bone-dry

An emphatic way to describe something extremely dry, leaving no doubt about the absence of moisture.

without moisture

A straightforward way to state the lack of moisture, applicable in various situations.

waterless

Emphasizes the complete absence of water, often used to describe landscapes or environments.

moisture-free

Specifically emphasizes the absence of moisture, often used in technical or scientific contexts.

dehydrated

Indicates the removal of water, often used in the context of food preservation or medical conditions.

lacking humidity

Focuses on the absence of humidity in the air, relevant in discussions about climate or environment.

desiccated

Describes something that has been completely dried out, often referring to food or biological samples.

drought-stricken

Refers to an area affected by a prolonged period of dryness, leading to water scarcity.

FAQs

How can I use "dry" in a sentence?

You can use "dry" to describe something lacking moisture, like "The towel is dry". It can also describe a period without rain, like "the dry season". Additionally, it can refer to humor that is subtle and understated, such as "dry wit".

What words can I use instead of "dry"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "arid", "parched", or "desiccated" to convey similar meanings. The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to express.

Which is correct: "dry" or "dried"?

The correct choice between "dry" and "dried" depends on the grammatical structure of the sentence. Use "dry" as an adjective (e.g., "dry clothes"). Use "dried" as the past tense or past participle of the verb "to dry" (e.g., "I dried the dishes").

What's the difference between "dry" and "drought"?

"Dry" is a general term indicating a lack of moisture, while "drought" refers to a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water. A region can be dry without experiencing a "drought".