dry out

become completely dry, or make something dry, after being wet

B2

What does "dry (sth) out" mean?

To dry out means to become completely free of moisture, or to cause something to lose all its moisture — usually over a period of time rather than all at once. It typically describes objects and materials that have been thoroughly soaked or dampened and need time for the moisture to fully leave them. For example, wet boots left near a radiator overnight dry out, or the sun dries washing out after a rainstorm. What makes this phrasal verb distinctive is the idea of thoroughness and depth — something isn't just damp on the surface anymore, it's fully dried through. It also works without an object when something dries by itself, which is just as natural as using it with an object.

Examples

How to use it

subject + dry out (intransitive)

Used when something loses moisture on its own, without anyone actively doing the drying — the subject does the action to itself.

I left the paintbrush on the windowsill and it dried out completely.

dry out + object

Used when someone or something causes an object to lose all its moisture — the object follows the particle.

We need to dry out the basement before we can repaint it.

dry + object + out

The object can be placed between the verb and the particle, especially with short noun phrases — this is very natural and common.

She spread the towels on the balcony to dry them out in the sun.

dry + pronoun + out

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle — never after 'out'.

The hiking socks were soaking wet, so I dried them out by the fire.

be dried out (passive)

The passive is natural, especially when describing something that has been thoroughly dried — often with an undesirable result.

The timber had been completely dried out by weeks of intense heat.

Common Collocations

clotheswoodskinwashingbootspaintbrush

Common Mistakes

Confusing 'dry out' with 'dry up'

Learners often use 'dry up' when they mean 'dry out'. Use 'dry out' for removing moisture from wet objects or materials; use 'dry up' for water sources or supplies that disappear entirely.

✗ Leave the soil to dry up before you plant anything.
✓ Leave the soil to dry out before you plant anything.
Confusing 'dry out' with 'dry off'

'Dry off' describes quick, surface-level drying — often of a person or animal after getting wet. 'Dry out' implies a deeper, more thorough process with objects or materials over a longer period.

✗ She jumped out of the pool and dried out with a towel.
✓ She jumped out of the pool and dried off with a towel.
Pronoun placed after the particle

When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'dry' and 'out' — placing it after 'out' is ungrammatical in English.

✗ My boots were soaked, so I dried out them overnight.
✓ My boots were soaked, so I dried them out overnight.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both spoken and written English. It can be used transitively ('the sun dried the washing out') or intransitively without an object ('leave it to dry out'), and both are equally natural.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'dry out' always need an object, or can I use it without one?

You can absolutely use it without an object — this is actually very common. When something dries by itself, you just use the phrasal verb alone: 'Leave the wood to dry out' or 'My skin always dries out in winter'. No object is needed in these cases.

Can I say 'the clothes are drying out' in the present continuous?

It's not ungrammatical, but when describing something drying on its own, it can sound a little unnatural compared to other tenses. It's more common to say 'the clothes dried out' or 'I left them to dry out'. The present continuous works better with the transitive use, such as 'We're drying out the basement after the leak'.

Does 'dry out' have another meaning apart from drying wet things?

Yes — in informal spoken English, 'dry out' can refer to someone stopping drinking alcohol, often at a clinic or treatment programme. Context makes it clear which meaning is intended, since this sense always refers to people rather than objects or materials.

What kinds of things can 'dry out'?

A wide range of objects and materials: clothing, boots, wood, soil, sponges, paintbrushes, towels, and building materials are all very common. It also works for skin, lips, or hair losing moisture due to heat or dry air — for example, 'Central heating dries my skin out in winter'.

Can 'dry out' be used in the passive?

Yes, the passive is natural and fairly common with this phrasal verb. It works well when describing something that has been thoroughly dried, especially with an unintended or undesirable result — for example, 'The bread had been dried out by the oven being too hot'.

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