drying

American  

[drahy-ing] / ˈdraɪ ɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing dryness.

   a drying breeze.

2. designed to become or capable of becoming dry and hard on exposure to air.

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drying British  

/ ˈdraɪɪŋ /

noun

1. the action or process of making or becoming dry

2. Also called (not now in technical usage): seasoning.  the processing of timber until it has a moisture content suitable for the purposes for which it is to be used

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adjective

1. causing dryness

   a drying wind

Other Word Forms

• nondrying adjective
• undrying adjective

Etymology

Origin of drying

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; dry, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Valverde, drying his tears after losing the final of that competition, heard what they had to say.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

The war has also hammered global markets and sent crude oil prices soaring by about a fifth in the week since fighting erupted, all but drying up shipping in the critical Strait of Hormuz.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

The team identified the ancient drying event by detecting a noticeable gap in sediment deposits from some of the island's oldest lakes.

From Science Daily • Mar. 2, 2026

St. Aubin said he worries that healthcare may be holding up the labor market in terms of growth in jobs, and that job openings may be drying up.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 1, 2026

I shift away, placing the last pot into the drying rack.

From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari