- present participle of dry.
drying
Americanadjective
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causing dryness.
a drying breeze.
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designed to become or capable of becoming dry and hard on exposure to air.
noun
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the action or process of making or becoming dry
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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
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of drying
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at dry, -ing 2
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.
Experts say years of deforestation and the drying out of naturally water-logged peatlands for cultivation has also transformed formerly fire-resistant landscapes.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
As the Mayo Clinic notes, “processing” can include washing, chopping, drying, packaging and a number of other things.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
Natural fibers don’t shed microplastics but they do shed microfibers during washing, drying and everyday wear.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
Manufacturers say that increasing production takes time and is costly, as producing high-protein whey requires specialist processing and drying equipment.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
He walked around the yard slowly, studying the drying panels.
From "Rickshaw Girl" by Mitali Perkins
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.