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dry out
verb
dried out; drying out; dries out
: to undergo an extended period of withdrawal from alcohol or drug use especially at a special clinic
Examples of dry out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Canes lay in piles on their sides, ready for the volunteers to knock off dirt clods that otherwise would keep them from drying out, leaving them as a possible threat with the next flood.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 20 May 2024
As Colorado’s rivers shrink and its soils dry out, state lawmakers this year passed a slew of water bills that advocates say will help reduce water use and protect the critical natural resource.
—Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 18 May 2024
More rain is expected through Friday morning but things are bound to dry out by the weekend, according to the NWS forecast.
—David Montesino, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2024
Temperatures will be in the mid-70s on Thursday and Friday.
Weekend forecast looks nice
Once the storms move out Friday, the Kansas City area will begin to dry out.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2024
Loosely cover with foil (to keep them from drying out) until all the pancakes are cooked.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2024
The season can often start as early as April or May in some dry years, but experts say late spring storms and a still-strong snowpack have kept plants from drying out.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
Rather than being tucked beneath a sheath of plastic wrap and placed in a 0°C room, a fan had blown on the fish all night and dried out the skin.
—Caroline Hatchett, Robb Report, 10 May 2024
Since pots dry out quickly, a potted magnolia needs watering more frequently than one planted in the ground.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 7 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dry out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1892, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near dry out
Cite this Entry
“Dry out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dry%20out. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Medical Definition
dry-out
1 of 2 adjective
: providing detoxification treatment
checked into a dry-out clinic
dry out
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to subject to withdrawal from the use of alcohol or drugs : detoxify sense 2
: to undergo an extended period of withdrawal from alcohol or drug use especially at a special clinic : detoxify
More from Merriam-Webster on dry out
Britannica English: Translation of dry out for Arabic Speakers
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