high and dry

adjective

Synonyms of high and drynext
1
: being out of reach of the current or tide or out of the water
2
: being in a helpless or abandoned position

Examples of high and dry in a Sentence

the inadequate supplies of vaccine left many people high and dry when the flu season arrived
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.
Lil Wayne is feeling remorseful after leaving fans in Maine high and dry. Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 2 July 2026 The drought that has plagued much of the Chesapeake Bay’s watershed during the first half of this year is causing strains to drinking water supplies, hurting crop output and leaving many rafters and boaters high and dry. Jeremy Cox, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2026 After the public learned about Chicago girls left high and dry when a Humboldt Park shop didn't deliver their prom dresses, strangers across the city are stepping up to help. Suzanne Le Mignot, CBS News, 14 May 2026 If everything goes to plan — and with no relief from the weather — Flaming Gorge will fall by as much as 27 feet (8 meters) a year from now, leaving Buckboard Marina even more high and dry. ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for high and dry

Word History

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of high and dry was in 1727

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“High and dry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high%20and%20dry. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster