Dryden

American

[drahyd-n] / ˈdraɪd n /

noun

John, 1631–1700, English poet, dramatist, and critic.

Dryden British

/ ˈdraɪdən /

noun

John. 1631–1700, English poet, dramatist, and critic of the Augustan period, commonly regarded as the chief exponent of heroic tragedy. His major works include the tragedy All for Love (1677), the verse satire Absalom and Achitophel (1681), and the Essay of Dramatick Poesie (1668)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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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.

The venue, the museum’s Dryden Theatre, is relatively small at 500 seats, and demand is high, not for specific titles but for the opportunity to see any given movie on nitrate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

Ms Brown told the court that officers had Dryden assessed by mental health professionals while he was in detention.

From BBC • Jun. 27, 2025

Lord Harrower deferred sentence for a background report and remanded Dryden in custody.

From BBC • Jun. 27, 2025

In the next concert March 25, Handel’s “Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day,“ a setting of poetry by John Dryden, took even fewer risks, at least for anyone with a love for music.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2025

“Yes, the plays were the best. Wonderful ones by Dryden and Shakespeare and Otway.”

From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023