A2adjective1K

Dry

UK /["/draɪ/"]/US /["/draɪ/"]/

Definition

not wet or sticky; without water or moisture

In simple words: not wet; without moisture

Examples

  • The laundry is all dry after being in the sun.
  • Please remember to water the plants; they look very dry.
  • He has a dry sense of humor that not everyone appreciates.
  • She enjoys reading dry academic articles, finding them fascinating.
  • The desert is a dry place with very little rainfall.
  • The cake turned out perfectly with a dry consistency, just as I wanted.
  • In winter, my skin becomes dry and needs moisturizing.
  • He made a dry joke that left everyone in silence.

Usage notes

Use 'dry' to describe something that lacks moisture. It's appropriate in both casual and formal settings, but avoid it in poetic contexts where more vivid descriptions might be preferred.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of a desert scene; dry as a bone with no water in sight.

Collocations

  • be
  • feel
  • look
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • be
  • feel
  • look
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very

Synonyms

  • arid
  • dehydrated
  • parched
  • desiccated
  • unmoistened

Antonyms

  • wet
  • moist
  • soggy

Common mistakes

  • Confusing with 'dried' which means something that has been made dry
  • Using 'dry' instead of 'bored' when referring to a lack of interest
  • 'Dry' as a verb; it's primarily an adjective in English