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

Those winds dried out whatever moisture remained from a pair of rain storms that hit the region last week. —Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024

One time, my face was dried out from retinoid overuse, and this serum immediately soothed my skin and erased the dry patches and flakes. —Jessie Quinn, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024

Due to a lack of snowfall, usually expected around this time of year, vegetation in the area has dried out, which could provide more fuel for the fire. —Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024

Climate change is drying out areas of the United States that produce food, provide water and enable global commerce. —John Sabo, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

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