# dry out

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dry-out
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to become completely dry after being wet, or to make something dry. You use this when something loses its moisture over time.

For teachers: To become or cause to become thoroughly dry. This phrasal verb functions both intransitively and transitively.

## Examples

- The wet clothes will dry out quickly in this wind.
- After the basement flooded, we had to use several fans to help the carpets dry out before mold started to grow.
- The intense heat of the desert sun can dry out a person's skin within hours if they are not properly protected.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The sun dried out it." but "The sun dried it out." — When the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- When used transitively, it often takes a physical object like clothes, wood, or skin.
- Teaching tip: Highlight the 'out' particle as indicating completeness, similar to 'clean out' or 'clear out'.

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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.