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

This means no chlorine drying out your skin, or removing hair dye. —Simon Hill, Wired News, 11 July 2025

In Southern California, longer heat waves will dry out vegetation and increase the danger of wildfires, Neelin said in an interview. —Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025

Hot showers or baths can dry out the skin and worsen conditions like eczema (atopic dermatitis).6 Some studies suggest cold water doesn't impact the skin barrier in the same way. —Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 9 July 2025

Allow the soil to dry out a bit, and repeat this process in two to three days. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2025

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