dry out

verb

dried out; drying out; dries out

intransitive verb

: to undergo an extended period of withdrawal from alcohol or drug use especially at a special clinic

Examples of dry out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This is especially helpful when paired with lean ground meats that tend to dry out quickly, like turkey, chicken, or veal. Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appétit, 7 Sep. 2024 When your skin is peeling, the epidermis (top layer) of your skin starts to dry out, crack, and break away from the rest of your skin. Sarah Bradley, Health, 5 Sep. 2024 For instance, clay soils hold moisture much longer than porous sandy soils, which require more frequent watering so the root ball doesn’t dry out, something that’s particularly important if the plant is in a pot. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2024 Brutal, rolling heat waves have dried out the land, creating ideal conditions for fires to rip through. Laura Paddison, CNN, 16 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dry out 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dry out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dry out was in 1892

Dictionary Entries Near dry out

Cite this Entry

“Dry out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dry%20out. Accessed 11 Sep. 2024.

Medical Definition

dry-out

1 of 2 adjective
: providing detoxification treatment
checked into a dry-out clinic

dry out

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to subject to withdrawal from the use of alcohol or drugs : detoxify sense 2

intransitive verb

: to undergo an extended period of withdrawal from alcohol or drug use especially at a special clinic : detoxify

More from Merriam-Webster on dry out

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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