# arid

/ˈæɹəd/ (US) · /ˈæɹɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/arid
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. very dry climate

adjective · CEFR B2

having very little rain; too dry to support many plants.

For teachers: characterised by a severe lack of available water, specifically a climate with insufficient rainfall to support most vegetation.

- The desert has an arid climate where only a few types of cactus can grow.
- The region's arid conditions have forced local farmers to invest heavily in sophisticated irrigation systems to maintain their crops during the summer months.

### 2. boring or lifeless

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

boring and lacking any excitement, interest, or new ideas.

For teachers: lacking in interest, excitement, or creative vitality; figuratively dry and lifeless.

- The professor gave an arid speech that was full of facts but had no personality.
- Critics dismissed the novel as an arid academic exercise, noting that its technical perfection could not compensate for its lack of emotional depth.

## Examples

- The desert is hot and arid.
- Farmers in the arid region rely on deep wells for their crops.
- The arid landscape stretched endlessly under the harsh sun, offering no shade or relief from the relentless heat.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.