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
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.
Add shredded cabbage or whatever vegetables you have, let everything soften, and finish with a drizzle of sesame oil or chili crisp.
From Salon • May 22, 2026
My typical breakfast is eggs with Celtic salt and I’ll drizzle some olive oil on it.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
Temperatures will also have dropped across southern parts on Sunday as a cold weather front bringing patchy overnight drizzle clears south.
From BBC • May 9, 2026
He’d heeded Bojsen-Møller’s advice and gone easy with the drizzle of red wine added at the end.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026
It’s a hushed cry—not like a storm, but like a drizzle.
From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi
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.
