dry-clean
Americanverb (used with object)
-
dry-cleans,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dry-cleaned,
past participle, past
-
dry-cleaning
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
dry-cleansimple
-
dry-cleanssimple
-
have dry-cleanedperfect
-
has dry-cleanedperfect
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am dry-cleaningprogressive
-
are dry-cleaningprogressive
-
is dry-cleaningprogressive
-
have been dry-cleaningperfect progressive
-
has been dry-cleaningperfect progressive
Past
-
dry-cleanedsimple
-
had dry-cleanedperfect
-
was dry-cleaningprogressive
-
were dry-cleaningprogressive
-
had been dry-cleaningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of dry-clean
First recorded in 1810–20; back formation from dry cleaning
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
If it merely says to dry-clean, consider that a recommendation, and know that you might be able to do it yourself.
From Washington Post ● May 17, 2022
So what if it will cost $7 to dry-clean it?
From New York Times ● Apr. 25, 2018
It is made of polyester and viscose and, unlike its inspiration, is dry-clean only.
From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2018
"It costs a lot to dry-clean a suit over there in Japan, and the prime minister had an expensive one."
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 20, 2017
She had bought a short white dress at a Goodwill thrift shop and paid twelve dollars to dry-clean it.
From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat
And it’s like, well, because I had to have an assistant go get that piece from his closet, have it dry-cleaned, have it picked up, then have it delivered to set.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026
People are often exposed to the chemical through the air when it slowly evaporates from recently dry-cleaned clothes.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 12, 2025
Typically, Southgate had Noades' clothes dry-cleaned the next morning.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2024
I wish more businesses encouraged their staff to ask customers before adding, say, plastic utensils to a food order or a plastic sleeve over dry-cleaned items.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 15, 2023
Farmer asked a fellow freshman, who was unpacking his dry-cleaned clothes, “How come you put your shirts in plastic?”
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Six in 10 construction-equipment workers and nearly half of laundry and dry-cleaning workers said they used AI for at least one task on the job.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026
I now manually turn off Live Photos for meh shots, like the snaps of my dry-cleaning receipt.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 22, 2026
However, workers in dry-cleaning facilities may face the highest risk because of long-term, direct contact with the chemical.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 12, 2025
And you think your dry-cleaning bills are bad!
From Slate ● Aug. 16, 2025
I twist at a corner of the plastic dry-cleaning bag.
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
