drily
drily — verb
- drilypresent simple I / you / we / they
- drilies3rd person singular
- drilying-ing form
- driliedpast simple
1. to take water or liquid away from the surface or inside of something, using air,
to take water or liquid away from the surface or inside of something, using air, heat, or a cloth, so that it is no longer wet
Ingrid dried her hands on a kitchen towel before picking up the knife.
dry + body part (hands/hair)
The morning sun dried the wet grass in the garden within an hour.
Otis dried the paintbrush carefully after washing it in the sink.
After the flood, workers used large fans to dry the walls of the house.
Yael dried her socks on the radiator because they were still damp from the rain.
文法句型
dry + object (hair, clothes, dishes, hands)
用法筆記
Object is typically something that holds or contains moisture: hair, hands, clothes, dishes, paint, tears. Frequently used with 'on' to specify the surface or tool used (dry your hands on a towel).
常見錯誤
2. to lose water or liquid naturally, by evaporation or through air moving over the
to lose water or liquid naturally, by evaporation or through air moving over the surface, and become no longer wet
The wet clothes hung on the line and dried in the afternoon breeze.
intransitive: subject + dry (no object)
Trang waited for the ink to dry before closing the notebook.
If you leave the bread out on the counter, it will dry and become hard.
The river dried during the long, hot summer with no rain at all.
Caio's shoes dried slowly by the fireplace after he walked home in the rain.
- get wet
become covered or soaked with water
文法句型
subject + dry (no object)
用法筆記
Often used with 'out' (dry out) to emphasise the process of becoming completely dry, especially after being very wet. 'Dry up' (dry up) is used for water sources that disappear completely.
常見錯誤
drily — adjective
- drilypositive
- driliercomparative
- driliestsuperlative
1. having no water or liquid in or on it; not wet or damp. Something that is dry ha
having no water or liquid in or on it; not wet or damp. Something that is dry has had all the moisture removed from it, so there is no feeling of wetness when you touch it — for example, a towel after it has been hung in the sun, or clothes that are ready to wear after coming out of a dryer.
Nila hung her wet coat near the heater and hoped it would be dry by morning.
dry after being wet: drying process context
The soil in the garden was so dry that the flowers had started to turn brown.
attributive: dry + noun describing condition of earth
Make sure your hands are completely dry before you touch the light switch.
Min wiped the kitchen counter with a dry cloth to remove the water marks.
The riverbed had been dry for months, and cracks spread across the hard mud.
- parched
more extreme; describes ground or lips that are extremely dry from lack of water
- arid
used for climate or land that gets almost no rain at all
- dehydrated
technical term for food or body that has lost all water
文法句型
dry + noun
be + dry
用法筆記
Often used with verbs of change: get dry, become dry, keep dry. The opposite is wet or damp.
常見錯誤
2. receiving little or no rain; having weather with no precipitation. People talk a
receiving little or no rain; having weather with no precipitation. People talk about a dry day when no rain falls, a dry season in tropical countries where it rarely rains for weeks, or dry conditions when the air has very little moisture.
The weather forecast said the weekend would be dry and sunny across most of Taiwan.
dry describing weather conditions
Andrés checked the sky every morning, hoping for dry conditions so his picnic could go ahead.
This has been the driest summer on record, and farmers are worried about their crops.
Aylin packed an umbrella anyway, even though the forecast promised dry weather.
文法句型
dry + noun (season/weather/conditions)
be + dry
用法筆記
Opposite of wet when talking about weather. A dry spell is a period with no rain. In tropical regions the dry season is a regular yearly period.
3. tasting or feeling hard, crumbly, and no longer fresh because the natural moistu
tasting or feeling hard, crumbly, and no longer fresh because the natural moisture has been lost over time. Used especially for baked goods like bread, cake, and biscuits that are past their best and have lost their softness.
Noa bit into the bread and immediately knew it was dry and stale.
dry describing food that is past fresh
The cake had been on the counter for three days and became dry and hard.
Zuri threw away the dry crackers because nobody wanted to eat them.
Justin learned that a dry loaf could be softened by warming it in the oven.
文法句型
dry + noun (bread/cake/crackers)
go/turn/become dry
用法筆記
Commonly used with bread, cake, biscuits, crackers, and pastries. The word stale is more specific for old bread, while dry is slightly broader and can describe any food that has lost moisture.
常見錯誤
4. said of a female cow that is not currently producing milk, either because the ca
said of a female cow that is not currently producing milk, either because the calf has been weaned or because the cow is in a rest period between lactation cycles. Farmers keep dry cows in a separate group from the milking herd so they can rest before giving birth again.
The farmer sold the dry cow at the market after she stopped producing milk.
domain-specific: farming term for non-lactating cow
Vets checked the dry cows to make sure they stayed healthy during the resting period.
Niran kept the dry cows in a separate field away from the milking herd.
The dairy farm rested its dry cows for two months before the next calving season.
文法句型
dry + noun (cow/herd)
5. showing or producing no tears; not accompanied by crying. People use this to des
showing or producing no tears; not accompanied by crying. People use this to describe eyes that stay tearless during an emotional moment, or a voice that sounds controlled and unemotional when talking about something sad or painful.
Yara listened to the sad news with dry eyes, too shocked to cry.
dry eyes: without tears while receiving bad news
The mother wiped her daughter's face, but the little girl's cheeks were already dry.
Madison described the accident in a dry voice, as if it had happened to a stranger.
Wei sat through the funeral with dry eyes, though his hands were shaking.
文法句型
dry + noun (eyes/voice/cheeks)
be + dry
用法筆記
A dry voice or dry eyes in an emotional situation suggests the person is holding back tears or trying to stay composed, not that they lack feeling.
常見錯誤
6. used to describe a cough that produces no phlegm or mucus — often a sign of alle
used to describe a cough that produces no phlegm or mucus — often a sign of allergies, viral infection, or irritation in the throat. Unlike a chesty cough that brings up sticky fluid, a dry cough is a repeated, tickling cough that feels unproductive.
Chiara had a dry cough that kept her awake all night but produced nothing.
dry cough: cough without phlegm
The doctor said the dry cough would improve once the allergy medicine started working.
Elena developed a dry cough after walking through the dusty construction site.
Kenji's dry cough was so bad that the school nurse sent him home early.
A dry cough that lasts more than two weeks should be checked by a doctor.
- non-productive
medical term for a cough that produces no mucus; formal register
- tickly cough
informal; emphasises the irritating sensation in the throat
- productive
medical term for a cough that brings up phlegm or mucus
- chesty
informal; a cough that produces mucus from the chest
文法句型
dry + noun (cough)
用法筆記
This sense is distinct from other uses of dry. A dry cough is a medical symptom, not about moisture — the 'dry' refers to the absence of phlegm. Frequently used in medical contexts: dry cough, chesty cough, productive cough.
常見錯誤
7. used to describe wine that does not have a sweet taste because the natural sugar
used to describe wine that does not have a sweet taste because the natural sugar has been changed into alcohol during the process of fermentation.
Nora prefers a dry white wine with her fish dishes, while Jack asks for something sweeter.
dry + wine (attributive)
The waiter suggested a dry champagne to start the meal and a sweeter one with dessert.
If you are not sure, a dry rosé works well with most summer foods.
Romi tried the dry red wine and found it too sharp, so she added a splash of lemonade.
- sec
French term used on wine labels for the same meaning
- brut
even drier than 'sec'; used specifically for sparkling wines
- unsweetened
broader term; used for any food or drink without added sugar
文法句型
dry + noun (wine, champagne, cider)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (NOT WET): a 'dry wine' has nothing to do with water — it refers to the absence of sugar, not of liquid.
常見錯誤
8. used to describe a place, event, or period of time where alcoholic drinks are no
used to describe a place, event, or period of time where alcoholic drinks are not sold, served, or allowed by law or custom.
The wedding reception was a dry event because several family members did not drink.
dry + event (attributive)
Some counties in the southern United States have remained dry for over a hundred years.
During the dry era known as Prohibition, bars were replaced by secret nightclubs.
Bilal was surprised to learn the party was dry, so he left his bottle at home.
- alcohol-free
more neutral; describes a drink or event rather than a legal restriction
- prohibition-era
specifically refers to the historical period when alcohol was banned in the US
- abstinent
describes a person who chooses not to drink, not a place or law
文法句型
dry + noun (county, town, wedding, country)
用法筆記
Frequently used to describe counties, towns, or states that forbid alcohol sales. Also used historically for the US Prohibition era (1920–1933).
常見錯誤
9. used to describe food that has no butter, margarine, sauce, or other spread adde
used to describe food that has no butter, margarine, sauce, or other spread added to it.
Tariro ordered dry toast with her boiled eggs because she was watching her cholesterol.
dry + toast (attributive)
A dry baked potato is healthier than one topped with butter and sour cream.
Hui asked for her sandwich dry, without mayonnaise or any dressing on the bread.
The crackers were too dry to eat alone, so Bilal spread cheese on each one.
文法句型
dry + noun (toast, cracker, bread, sandwich, biscuit)
用法筆記
Common in restaurant orders ('dry toast', 'sandwich dry'). Usually implies the food is served plain, without any fat-based spread or sauce.
10. used to describe something that is in a solid, powdered, or dehydrated state rat
used to describe something that is in a solid, powdered, or dehydrated state rather than a liquid or fresh form.
The recipe calls for dry milk powder, not the fresh liquid kind from the fridge.
dry + noun (milk powder, yeast, beans)
When hiking in the mountains, Tamar carries dry soup mix that just needs hot water.
Dry yeast must be mixed with warm water and sugar before you add it to the flour.
The paint comes in a dry powder form, and you add water at home to make it ready.
Dried beans are sold dry in bags and need to be soaked overnight before cooking.
- dehydrated
more technical; emphasises that water has been removed by a process
- powdered
specific to substances ground into a fine dry form
- dried
common for food items like beans, fruit, herbs from which moisture has been removed
文法句型
dry + noun (milk, powder, yeast, beans, fruit, soup mix)
用法筆記
Often contrasts with the fresh or liquid version of the same item (dry beans vs canned beans, dry yeast vs fresh yeast).
11. used to describe a shop, section, or trade that deals in nonperishable items suc
used to describe a shop, section, or trade that deals in nonperishable items such as fabrics, clothing, flour, sugar, and canned food.
The dry goods store on Main Street sells fabric, thread, buttons, and sewing supplies.
dry goods + store (collocation)
Bao went to the dry goods aisle to buy flour, sugar, and baking powder for the cake.
The market has separate sections for fresh vegetables and dry goods like rice and pasta.
Nikhil's grandmother worked at a dry goods shop near the town square sixty years ago.
- nonperishables
broader category; includes any food that does not spoil quickly
- household goods
includes cleaning products and kitchen tools as well as food staples
- fresh produce
opposite category; fruits, vegetables, and other perishable items
文法句型
dry goods + noun (store, shop, aisle)
用法筆記
Primarily a North American retail term. In other varieties of English, similar items are called 'household goods' or simply 'groceries' depending on the shop.
常見錯誤
12. used to describe a person's way of speaking or acting that is serious and withou
used to describe a person's way of speaking or acting that is serious and without emotion, often combined with a quiet, clever sense of humour.
Sofia has a dry sense of humour that makes everyone laugh even though she never smiles.
dry + sense of humour (common collocation)
The teacher gave a dry reply to the joke, saying only 'how amusing' in a flat voice.
His dry manner during the meeting made it hard to tell if he was angry or just tired.
Walid appreciated her dry wit, which caught him off guard every time she spoke.
- deadpan
delivered with no expression; often interchangeable with 'dry humour'
- understated
not showy or exaggerated; can describe humour or manner
- wry
twisted or ironic humour that is clever but slightly bitter or mocking
- matter-of-fact
emotionless and practical in tone, without humour
文法句型
dry + noun (humour, wit, manner, reply, voice)
be + dry
用法筆記
A 'dry' sense of humour or 'dry wit' is delivered with a serious face and a flat tone — the speaker does not show that they are joking. Distinguish from sense 13 (BORING / DULL), which describes something that is uninteresting rather than deliberately emotionless.
常見錯誤
13. not interesting enough to hold your attention; plain and dull in a way that feel
not interesting enough to hold your attention; plain and dull in a way that feels boring — for example, a dry speech that puts people to sleep, or a dry book with no lively details.
The lecture was so dry that several students fell asleep in the front row.
collocation: dry lecture / dry talk / dry speech
Jude found the textbook chapter dry and difficult to finish.
The museum guide gave a dry description of each painting with no stories.
His writing style is rather dry, with no humor or colorful language at all.
Anya skipped the dry introduction and went straight to the main topic.
- dull
more common; dry suggests plainness, dull suggests lack of liveliness
- tedious
stronger, implies the boring quality goes on for too long; more formal
- monotonous
focuses on lack of variety or change
- lively
full of energy and interest
常見錯誤
14. failing to produce the expected result, profit, or yield — for example, a dry we
failing to produce the expected result, profit, or yield — for example, a dry well that gives no water, a dry business deal that makes no money, or a dry period when nothing useful happens.
After three years of dry research, the team finally made a breakthrough.
collocation: dry research / dry period
The farm had a dry season with almost no harvest to sell.
Sofia called the investment dry after it failed to return any profit.
The negotiations turned dry and ended without any agreement.
- unproductive
more general and formal; dry often adds the idea of a disappointing expected result
- barren
stronger, usually about land or creative output; more poetic
- fruitless
focuses on effort that leads to nothing
- productive
yielding good results
- fruitful
producing positive outcomes
用法筆記
Commonly used of wells, business deals, creative periods, or negotiations — things that are expected to produce something but do not.
常見錯誤
15. describing a practice or trial of a planned activity before the real event — for
describing a practice or trial of a planned activity before the real event — for example, a dry run of a presentation to check for problems, or a dry run of an evacuation drill.
The team did a dry run of the presentation the day before the client meeting.
grammar pattern: a dry run of [something]
Hao recommended a dry run to make sure all the equipment worked properly.
Before the wedding, the couple had a dry run at the venue with the staff.
The firefighters did a dry run of the rescue plan to find weak points.
- practice run
more general; dry run is the most common fixed phrase
- trial run
interchangeable; slightly more formal
- rehearsal
usually for performances or speeches; does not work for technical/operational tests
文法句型
a dry run
用法筆記
Only used attributively before the noun 'run' (or occasionally 'test'/'drill'). Never used predicatively: ❌ 'The presentation was dry run.'
常見錯誤
drily — adverb
1. delivering a humorous comment with a serious, plain tone of voice — the listener
delivering a humorous comment with a serious, plain tone of voice — the listener understands it is funny from the contrast between the flat delivery and the unexpected content
Andrew asked if the meeting was finished and his boss drily remarked that it had only just begun.
drily remarked — typical verb of speaking
'I suppose that is one way to see it,' Piotr said drily after hearing the unlikely story.
The professor drily noted that the student's excuse was as creative as it was unconvincing.
Rafael drily commented that losing his luggage was the best part of the whole trip.
'The forecasters got it right again,' Kwame said drily as the rain poured down.
- sarcastically
more directly mocking or cutting; dry humour can be gentler
- wryly
suggests ironic amusement rather than deliberate humour
- deadpan
focuses on the blank expression; drily can be delivered with a straight face
- jovially
with obvious good humour and laughter, the opposite of understated wit
文法句型
drily + said/remarked/observed/commented
用法筆記
Most common with verbs of speaking — said, remarked, observed, commented, noted. The humour is understated and may be missed by listeners who expect a joking tone of voice.
常見錯誤
2. speaking or reacting with deliberate coldness and detachment, giving no sign of
speaking or reacting with deliberate coldness and detachment, giving no sign of the feelings one might normally expect
Kwame stated the facts drily, as if reading numbers from a report.
stated the facts drily — describes detached delivery
'We have no further comment,' the company spokesperson said drily.
Felix looked at the broken vase and drily asked who needed it anyway.
The newspaper described the accident drily, ignoring the human cost.
When Ishaan resigned, his manager drily replied that the paperwork would be ready.
- coldly
suggests hostility or unfriendliness; drily suggests distance without hostility
- indifferently
focuses on lack of concern; drily focuses on lack of visible emotion
- emotionlessly
more clinical; drily often implies a deliberate choice
- warmly
showing positive feelings and engagement
- passionately
with strong emotion, the opposite of cold distance
文法句型
drily + stated/explained/replied/asked
用法筆記
Often used when a speaker is deliberately controlling their emotions or when the expected emotional reaction is absent. Differs from sense 1 in that there is no intention to be funny — only coldness or detachment.
常見錯誤
3. describing how something exists or feels when it contains no water or liquid at
describing how something exists or feels when it contains no water or liquid at all — used especially of surfaces, objects, or natural features from which all moisture is gone
After three weeks without rain, the well sat drily at the bottom of the empty riverbed.
sat drily — describes a completely dry state
Minh wiped the kitchen counter drily with a cloth before putting the plates away.
The autumn leaves rustled drily in the wind, brown and ready to crumble.
Zuri touched the old wooden bench and found the paint had dried drily, with no sticky spots left.
- dully
can describe a sound with no resonance, but does not directly mean 'without moisture'
- damply
with some moisture present
文法句型
verb + drily (describing a dry state)
用法筆記
Much less common than the adjective 'dry' for describing lack of moisture. The adverbial form is mostly found in formal or literary descriptions of how something sits, feels, or sounds when completely dry.