What does "draining" mean?

1. (exhausting) making you feel very tired or taking away all your mental energy. 2. (liquid flowing away) the act of liquid flowing out of something until it is empty. 3. (the process of emptying) the process or system of moving liquid away from a place. 4. (exploring sewers) the hobby of exploring underground tunnels or pipes.

Is it correct to say "I am very draining after work."?

No — say "I am very drained after work.". Use 'draining' for the thing that causes the feeling (the job) and 'drained' for the person who feels it.

draining

adj. · v. · n.

US //ˈdɹeɪnɪŋ// UK //dɹˈeɪnɪŋ// drain·ing

1 exhausting (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

making you feel very tired or taking away all your mental energy.

causing a significant depletion of physical or emotional energy; mentally or physically exhausting.

Example

It was a long and draining day at the office with too many meetings.

Example

The constant emotional demands of the role proved incredibly draining, eventually leading the manager to seek a less stressful position.
- energizing
- refreshing
Pitfall

I am very draining after work.

I am very drained after work.

Use 'draining' for the thing that causes the feeling (the job) and 'drained' for the person who feels it.
2 liquid flowing away (v.)
B1 Intermediate

the act of liquid flowing out of something until it is empty.

the present participle of 'drain', describing the continuous process of liquid being drawn off or flowing away from a container or area.

Example

The water is slowly draining from the sink after I cleared the pipe.

Example

By draining the flooded fields into the nearby canal, the farmers managed to save a significant portion of the autumn harvest.
- filling

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3 the process of emptying (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical

the process or system of moving liquid away from a place.

the action or method by which something is emptied or liquid is removed; often used in technical or agricultural contexts.

Example

The draining of the swamp took several months to complete.

Example

The rapid draining of the reservoir caused concern among local environmentalists regarding the impact on the native fish population.
- drainage
- depletion
4 exploring sewers (n.)
C2 Proficiency Informal Slang

the hobby of exploring underground tunnels or pipes.

the practice of exploring man-made underground structures such as drains, sewers, or storm tunnels.

Example

He joined a group of people who enjoy draining in the old parts of the city.

Example

Draining remains a controversial subculture of urban exploration due to the significant safety risks and legal issues involved in entering storm systems.
- urban exploration