dry
- 01 A1 Beginner
adj.not wet or not covered in water.
adj.free from or lacking moisture or liquid on a surface or within a substance.
Simple“Make sure your hands are dry before you touch the electrical plug.”
In context“The desert air was so dry that any perspiration evaporated almost instantly, leaving a fine salt crust on the skin.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
adj.used to describe wine or other drinks that are not sweet.
adj.denoting a drink, especially wine, in which the natural sugars have been mostly converted to alcohol during fermentation.
Simple“I prefer a dry white wine with my grilled fish.”
In context“The sommelier recommended a particularly dry Riesling to balance the richness of the cream-based sauce.”
SynonymsunsweetenedAntonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.boring, very serious, or without any interesting details.
adj.lacking interest, warmth, or embellishment; often used to describe academic or technical prose.
Simple“The history textbook was so dry that I fell asleep while reading.”
In context“The lecture was a dry recitation of statistics that failed to capture the human impact of the economic crisis.”
Synonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.a way of being funny while looking very serious.
adj.referring to a form of subtle, understated humour delivered with a straight face.
Simple“He has a very dry sense of humour that some people don't understand.”
In context“Her dry wit often went unnoticed by those who expected more obvious physical comedy or punchlines.”
Synonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
adj.a place where selling or drinking alcohol is not allowed.
adj.prohibiting the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Simple“Some counties in the southern United States are still dry.”
In context“The university decided to make the entire campus a dry zone to discourage underage drinking during the festival.”
SynonymsprohibitionistAntonyms - 06 A2 Elementary
v.to make something dry by wiping it or leaving it in the air.
v.to cause to become dry; to remove moisture from a surface or substance.
Simple“Hang your wet towel outside so it can dry in the sun.”
In context“The laboratory technician used a centrifuge to dry the samples before weighing them for the final analysis.”
- 07 C2 Proficiency
v.when an actor suddenly forgets what they are supposed to say during a play.
v.to forget one's lines during a theatrical performance.
Simple“The lead actor dried in the middle of the second act.”
In context“Even seasoned professionals occasionally dry under the pressure of a live opening night audience.”
Synonyms - 08 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the time of year when there is very little rain.
n.the annual period of low rainfall in tropical climates.
Simple“We usually travel to the north during the dry to avoid the floods.”
In context“During the dry, the landscape transforms from lush green to a dusty, golden brown as the waterholes vanish.”
UsageUsually used with 'the'.
Teacher's tipCommonly used in Australia and other tropical regions to distinguish from the monsoon or rainy season.
SynonymsAntonymsthe wet
Usage dry conditions · dry weather · dry air