drizzle
Americanverb (used without object)
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to rain gently and steadily in fine drops; sprinkle.
It drizzled throughout the night.
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to fall in fine drops.
verb (used with object)
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to pour in a fine stream.
Drizzle melted butter over the breadcrumb topping.
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to rain or let fall in fine drops or particles; sprinkle.
He then drizzled grated cheese over the hot pasta.
noun
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a very light rain.
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Meteorology. precipitation consisting of numerous minute droplets of water less than 0.02 inch (0.5 millimeter) in diameter.
noun
verb
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(intr) to rain lightly
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(tr) to moisten with tiny droplets
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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drizzlesimple
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drizzlessimple
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have drizzledperfect
-
has drizzledperfect
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am drizzlingprogressive
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are drizzlingprogressive
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is drizzlingprogressive
-
have been drizzlingperfect progressive
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has been drizzlingperfect progressive
Past
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drizzledsimple
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had drizzledperfect
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was drizzlingprogressive
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were drizzlingprogressive
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had been drizzlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of drizzle
First recorded in 1535–45; perhaps back formation from dryseling, dissimilated variant of Middle English drysning “fall (of dew)”; akin to Old English drēosan “to fall”; cognate with Old Saxon driosan, Gothic driusan
Explanation
Drizzle is a very light rain shower. You might grab an umbrella before you head out for a walk in the drizzle. When the weather report calls for drizzle, you know it's going to be a damp day, although you might leave your galoshes and rain suit at home. Drizzle is heavier than mist, but just a bit — and you can use it as a verb, too: "It's supposed to drizzle this evening, but our picnic is still on." The word drizzle stems from the now-obsolete drysning, "a falling of dew," from the Old English drēosan, "to fall."
Vocabulary lists containing drizzle
Raining Cats and Dogs
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Weather
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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.
Drizzle could dampen Southern California on Monday and Tuesday before a heat wave arrives just in time for Mother’s Day weekend — possibly pushing the thermometer to 90 degrees in downtown L.A. on Sunday.
From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026
Drizzle arrived in the final moments of day two of the fifth Ashes Test but this was a day English misery poured.
From BBC • Jan. 5, 2026
Arcement, 14, then traveled to a toy conference and fair in Chicago where she scooped up two awards and held a string of meetings with publishers about licensing her game, Drizzle.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2025
Drizzle that same oil over fish right off the grill – the heat from the fish extracts an entirely different and oh-so-delicious flavor palate.
From Salon • Jan. 19, 2025
Drizzle started to fall, increasing the already cutthroat competition for a cab.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
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.
