# drought

/ˈdɹaʊt/ (US) · /dɹˈaʊt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/drought
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. lack of rain

noun · CEFR B2

a long period of time when there is little or no rain.

For teachers: a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, resulting in a water shortage that affects ecosystems and agriculture.

- The crops failed this year because of the severe drought that lasted all summer.
- The regional government declared a state of emergency after the drought depleted the reservoirs to less than twenty percent of their capacity.

### 2. lack of success

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a long time without success or without getting something you want.

For teachers: a metaphorical extension referring to a prolonged period without achievement, production, or success, particularly in a competitive context.

- The team finally won a game, ending their three-month scoring drought.
- After a decade-long drought of critical acclaim, the novelist finally secured a major literary prize with her latest historical epic.

Usage: Often used with 'ending' or 'breaking' to describe the return of success.

## Examples

- The crops died because of the long drought.
- Farmers in the region are struggling to save their livestock after three years of severe drought.
- The local government implemented strict water rationing measures to preserve the dwindling reservoir levels during the most intense drought the state had seen in a century.

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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.