dry out

verb

dried out; drying out; dries out

intransitive verb

: 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

Researchers blame a number of factors, including climate change causing fuel to dry out and be more flammable, a record drought, tens of millions of tons of dead trees from Hurricane Helene, and the vast area where dense forests and high numbers of people try to coexist. —Seth Borenstein, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026

Conditions should dry out by the afternoon, and the chance of rain will return on Tuesday and Wednesday. —Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026

This step builds on the eye cream by extending that moisture barrier across the full face and preventing the delicate eye area from drying out and creasing as the day goes on. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2026

As a result of these conditions, trees, grass and leaves dry out and can quickly become fuel for wildfires. —Zachary Handlos, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dry out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Medical Definition

dry-out

1 of 2 adjective

ˈdrī-ˌau̇t 

: providing detoxification treatment

checked into a dry-out clinic

dry out

2 of 2 transitive verb

(ˈ)drī-ˈau̇t 

: to subject to withdrawal from the use of alcohol or drugs : detoxify sense 2

intransitive verb

: to undergo an extended period of withdrawal from alcohol or drug use especially at a special clinic : detoxify