drizzle
Americanverb (used without object)
-
drizzles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
drizzled,
past participle, past
-
drizzling
present participle
-
to rain gently and steadily in fine drops; sprinkle.
It drizzled throughout the night.
-
to fall in fine drops.
verb (used with object)
-
drizzles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
drizzled,
past participle, past
-
drizzling
present participle
-
to pour in a fine stream.
Drizzle melted butter over the breadcrumb topping.
-
to rain or let fall in fine drops or particles; sprinkle.
He then drizzled grated cheese over the hot pasta.
noun
-
a very light rain.
-
Meteorology. precipitation consisting of numerous minute droplets of water less than 0.02 inch (0.5 millimeter) in diameter.
noun
verb
-
(intr) to rain lightly
-
(tr) to moisten with tiny droplets
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
drizzlesimple
-
drizzlessimple
-
have drizzledperfect
-
has drizzledperfect
-
am drizzlingprogressive
-
are drizzlingprogressive
-
is drizzlingprogressive
-
have been drizzlingperfect progressive
-
has been drizzlingperfect progressive
Past
-
drizzledsimple
-
had drizzledperfect
-
was drizzlingprogressive
-
were drizzlingprogressive
-
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.
See Examples For:
In a light summer drizzle, Chris and I planted the sequoia a few dozen yards from the other tree.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
Students cheered as they stacked rubbish bins against the entrance to a school outside Paris, while a speaker thumped out French rap to young people, teachers and parents mingling in the early morning drizzle.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
The southern half of the UK is likely to be more cloudy and have a muggy feel with the chance of light rain and drizzle.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
“Chances for drizzle and light rain linger through Friday,” the agency said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
The rain which had been a fine drizzle had become by morning a heavy downpour.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
There's a saying in neighbouring Belgium: whenever it pours in Paris, it at least drizzles in Brussels.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
You can add syrup drizzles on top, you can add soft-top cold foam.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 1, 2026
In a video uploaded to YouTube last year, home cook and food influencer Alexa Santos scores a wheel of brie, drizzles it with honey, and flips it into a hot cast-iron pan.
From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2024
Wednesday’s forecast look more like that typical June weather of overcast and drizzles.
From Seattle Times ● May 31, 2024
The rest of the Morning Announcements were as exciting as December drizzles, and maybe Mr. Guareschi knew that, because he said he wanted to conclude by reading a lovely note, from Mrs. Sidman.
From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt
I ordered a stir fry of crab and broken rice with greens and yam that came topped with a fried soft-shell crab drizzled with shito, a Ghanaian chili sauce.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026
The vegetable crudité wreath is then finished off with a store-bought tahini dip drizzled with honey.
From Salon ● Dec. 15, 2025
“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
These oils are gorgeous drizzled over hummus, whisked into salads, or stirred with za’atar for a simple, perfect dip.
From Salon ● Dec. 4, 2025
She slathered them in peanut butter and drizzled dark Karo syrup on top.
From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez
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
It had been drizzling throughout the morning but now the rain began to pick up.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
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