dry
adjective
free from moisture or excess moisture; not moist; not wet.
had been drying
-
past perfect progressiveof dry.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
Henry Moreton, a regional NFU chair in Lincolnshire, said crops had been "drying out and dying because of the extreme heat and the lack of moisture".
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2025
Much of the state had been drying out from the system that blew in last week, causing flooding and dumping welcome snow in mountains.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 4, 2024
The Russian government built a $106 million dike in 2005 that sealed off the Aral Sea, which had been drying up because of agriculture.
From New York Times ● Nov. 28, 2017
The drought had been drying out what once had been lush and unscorched for two decades — a possible reason why the fire has been moving so rapidly, officials said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2014
Clare took his cloak from where it had been drying beside the hearth and swung it around his neck, drawing the hood low.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
