drizzle
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to rain gently and steadily in fine drops; sprinkle.
It drizzled throughout the night.
-
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
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
Persy Arcement invented Drizzle early in the pandemic when she was stuck at home bored.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 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 floats over the hilltop and the sky gets cloudier.
From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio
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.
