dry up

verb

dried up; drying up; dries up
Synonyms of dry upnext

transitive verb

: to cut off the supply of

intransitive verb

1
: to disappear as if by evaporation, draining, or cutting off of a source of supply
2
: to wither or die through gradual loss of vitality
3
: to stop talking

Examples of dry up in a Sentence

sick of her constant complaining, he angrily told her to dry up
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Things look to dry up by Tuesday afternoon after 1-2 inches of rain. Adam Del Rosso, CBS News, 16 May 2026 The fossils were first discovered by a local resident in 2016 and initial excavation happened between then and 2019, but then funding dried up. James Doubek, NPR, 14 May 2026 Research money to study the only hantavirus transmitted from person to person — the same strain that broke out on the cruise ship — dried up. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2026 Museums and art foundations have grown increasingly reliant on sponsorship as public funding for culture dries up on both sides of the Atlantic. Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dry up

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of dry up was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dry up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dry%20up. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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