drizzle

American  

[driz-uhl] / ˈdrɪz əl /

verb (used without object)

• drizzles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• drizzled,
  past participle,  past
• drizzling
  present participle

1. to rain gently and steadily in fine drops; sprinkle.

   It drizzled throughout the night.

2. to fall in fine drops.

---

verb (used with object)

• drizzles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• drizzled,
  past participle,  past
• drizzling
  present participle

1. to pour in a fine stream.

   Drizzle melted butter over the breadcrumb topping.

2. to rain or let fall in fine drops or particles; sprinkle.

   He then drizzled grated cheese over the hot pasta.

noun

1. a very light rain.

2. Meteorology. precipitation consisting of numerous minute droplets of water less than 0.02 inch (0.5 millimeter) in diameter.

drizzle British  

/ ˈdrɪzəl /

noun

1. very light rain, specifically consisting of droplets less than 0.5 mm in diameter

---

verb

1. (intr) to rain lightly

2. (tr) to moisten with tiny droplets

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• drizzly
  adjective
• drizzly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• drizzling
  present
• drizzled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• drizzle
  simple
• drizzles
  simple
• have drizzled
  perfect
• has drizzled
  perfect
• am drizzling
  progressive
• are drizzling
  progressive
• is drizzling
  progressive
• have been drizzling
  perfect progressive
• has been drizzling
  perfect progressive

Past

• drizzled
  simple
• had drizzled
  perfect
• was drizzling
  progressive
• were drizzling
  progressive
• had been drizzling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will drizzle
  simple
• will have drizzled
  perfect
• will be drizzling
  progressive
• will have been drizzling
  perfect progressive

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

drizzle drizzles drizzled drizzling

Thousands of protesters started gathering from early Monday, defying a steady monsoon drizzle and police barricades put up on routes leading to the site.

From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026

Large raindrops fall five times faster than drizzle.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

Moscow authorities denied the "oil rain" but residents insisted to the BBC the dirty drizzle had marked their clothes.

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026

As for toppings, I like to add more bananas, preferably barely ripe or ripe, along with cut-up strawberries, slivered almonds and a drizzle of chocolate syrup.

From Salon ● Jun. 20, 2026

The light drizzle has become hard rain and I cover my face as I cry.

From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi

You can add syrup drizzles on top, you can add soft-top cold foam.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 1, 2026

Wednesday’s forecast look more like that typical June weather of overcast and drizzles.

From Seattle Times ● May 31, 2024

He clearly relishes soft playing, with sensitive effects of distant bells and moonlit drizzles in Messiaen’s “La Colombe” and “Le Nombre Léger,” and a murmured sotto voce in Chopin’s Op.

From New York Times ● Mar. 20, 2024

The recipe itself calls for a heaping amount of snow packed into a coffee mug, which is then topped with generous drizzles of chocolate and salted caramel sauce.

From Salon ● Jan. 22, 2024

Ekon winced as the first drizzles of rain pelted his bare arms, slicking his sandals so that every step was harder and harder.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Growing up, my mother would make a simple salad of sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, and lemons, drizzled with salt, served alongside homemade curries, spiced rice and steamed fish fillets wrapped in banana leaf parcels.

From Salon ● Feb. 7, 2026

“Meghan imagined what it would taste like to have a sage honey drizzled on her Thanksgiving turkey,” the newsletter revealed.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 4, 2025

By contrast, toxically naive Glinda is convinced that everyone could be kind if she drizzled them with honey.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2025

“Everyone likes a chicken sandwich,” he notes, but while older consumers still drink hot, black coffee, younger ones gravitate toward colorful energy drinks and iced concoctions that look perfect drizzled with caramel on TikTok.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2025

She took the canteen out of her backpack and drizzled them with the water Ben had given her the day before.

From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu

A rally this month organized by the graduate student union and faculty groups drew well over 100 people despite drizzling rain.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2025

Extra virgin olive oil, for example, is packed with antioxidants and beneficial compounds but its low smoke point means it is better for salad dressings or drizzling over food rather than deep frying.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2025

This small-batch, unfiltered olive oil is perfect for drizzling on burrata or sourdough.

From Salon ● Dec. 16, 2024

The bones, wrapped up in a bundle like Santa Claus’ bag of toys, slapped up and down on the back of the priest who carried them, drizzling grease down his back.

From Slate ● Dec. 15, 2024

He spoke in a slow, drizzling drawl, but his eyes were as clear and sharp as a cat’s.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

Related Words

• dribble
• spray
• sprinkle