# dry off

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

## Senses

### 1. to remove moisture

phrasal verb · CEFR A2

to make something dry by using a towel or by waiting for the water to go away.

For teachers: to remove moisture from a surface, typically by wiping with an absorbent material or through evaporation.

- He used a large towel to dry off after his morning swim in the pool.
- After the heavy rain stopped, the maintenance crew worked quickly to dry off the tennis courts before the tournament final began.

Usage: The verb is separable when used transitively: you can 'dry off the dog' or 'dry the dog off'.

### 2. to become dry

phrasal verb · CEFR A2

to become dry after being wet.

For teachers: to lose moisture and return to a dry state; used intransitively.

- We sat in the sun for ten minutes to dry off before getting back into the car.
- The hikers paused at the summit, allowing their sweat-soaked shirts to dry off in the brisk wind before they started the descent.

Usage: Used without a direct object.

### 3. farming

phrasal verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to stop milking a cow so it can rest before having a calf.

For teachers: to cease the milking of a cow to allow for a non-lactating period prior to parturition.

- The farmer needs to dry off the cows a few weeks before they give birth.
- Properly drying off a dairy cow is essential for maintaining udder health and ensuring high milk production in the subsequent lactation cycle.

Usage: Used transitively in agricultural contexts.

## Examples

- I need to dry off after my shower.
- The children ran around the garden to dry off in the sun after playing in the pool.
- After emerging from the lake, the hikers paused to dry off before changing into their thermal layers to prevent hypothermia.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: contrast with the simple verb 'dry'; 'dry off' emphasizes the process of removing surface water from a person or object until the wetness is gone.

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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.