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• dry dock
  dry dock

  noun

  a structure able to contain a ship and to be drained or lifted so as to leave the ship free of water with all parts of the hull accessible for repairs, painting, etc.
• dry-dock
  dry-dock

  verb (used with object)

  to place (a ship) in a dry dock.

dry dock

¹ American  

noun

1. a structure able to contain a ship and to be drained or lifted so as to leave the ship free of water with all parts of the hull accessible for repairs, painting, etc.

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dry-dock ² American  

[drahy-dok] / ˈdraɪˌdɒk /

verb (used with object)

1. to place (a ship) in a dry dock.

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verb (used without object)

1. (of a ship) to go into a dry dock.

dry dock British  

noun

1. a basin-like structure that is large enough to admit a ship and that can be pumped dry for work on the ship's bottom

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verb

1. to put (a ship) into a dry dock, or (of a ship) to go into a dry dock

Etymology

Origin of dry dock¹

First recorded in 1620–30

Origin of dry-dock²

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Growth should be driven by its new dry dock and four new vessels, including its commissioning service operation vessel in FY 2026, the analyst says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

California’s coastal salmon industry already is in dry dock.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2025

HMS Unicorn, Scotland's oldest ship, has received a £796,000 grant toward the cost of moving it to a new dry dock.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2025

It left its berth in Camden, New Jersey, en route to Philadelphia, where it was guided into dry dock to undergo two months of repairs that can only be completed out of water.

From Seattle Times • May 1, 2024

I think that ship sank in dry dock for both of us.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman