Standard Lemma guide

dryness

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK, US: /ˈdɹaɪ.nəs/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -aɪnəs
  • CMU ARPABET: D R AY1 N AH0 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A lack of moisture.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The degree to which something is dry.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

objectivity and detachment

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • her manner assumed a dispassion and dryness very unlike her usual tone

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dispassion, dispassionateness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: unemotionality, emotionlessness

4

noun

Meaning 4

moderation in or abstinence from alcohol or other drugs

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sobriety

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: temperance, moderation

5

noun

Meaning 5

the condition of not containing or being covered by a liquid (especially water)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: waterlessness, xerotes

Antonyms: wetness

Broader terms: condition, status

Narrower terms: dehydration, desiccation, drought, drouth, aridity, aridness, thirstiness, sereness, xerophthalmia, xerophthalmus, xeroma, conjunctivitis arida, xerostomia, dry mouth

History

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English dryenesse, drynesse; equivalent to dry + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

48 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Aromanian: uscãciuni — a lack of moisture
  • Asturian: sequedá — a lack of moisture
  • Asturian: secura — a lack of moisture
  • Bengali: শোষ (śōś) — a lack of moisture
  • Catalan: sequedat — a lack of moisture
  • Catalan: eixutesa — a lack of moisture
  • Catalan: secor — a lack of moisture
  • Catalan: eixutor — a lack of moisture
  • Dutch: droogte — a lack of moisture
  • Dutch: droogheid — a lack of moisture
  • Esperanto: sekeco — a lack of moisture
  • Finnish: kuivuus — a lack of moisture
  • French: siccité — a lack of moisture
  • French: sécheresse — a lack of moisture
  • Galician: sequidade — a lack of moisture
  • Galician: secura — a lack of moisture
  • German: Trockenheit — a lack of moisture
  • Ancient Greek: ξηρότης (xērótēs) — a lack of moisture
  • Hindi: रूखापन (rūkhāpan) — a lack of moisture
  • Italian: secchezza — a lack of moisture
  • Latin: siccitās — a lack of moisture
  • Latvian: sausums — a lack of moisture
  • Low German: Dröögde — a lack of moisture
  • Middle English: dryenesse — a lack of moisture
  • Khiamniungan Naga: vài — a lack of moisture
  • Portuguese: aridez — a lack of moisture
  • Romanian: uscăciune — a lack of moisture
  • Romanian: ariditate — a lack of moisture
  • Russian: су́хость (súxostʹ) — a lack of moisture
  • Spanish: sequedad — a lack of moisture
  • Spanish: aridez — a lack of moisture
  • Spanish: enjutez — a lack of moisture
  • Spanish: resequedad — a lack of moisture
  • Spanish: secura — a lack of moisture
  • Thai: ความแห้ง (kwaam-hɛ̂ɛng) — a lack of moisture
  • Turkish: kuruluk — a lack of moisture
  • Uyghur: قۇرۇقلۇق (quruqluq) — a lack of moisture
  • Volapük: säg — a lack of moisture
  • Volapük: sig — a lack of moisture
  • Esperanto: sekeco — the degree to which something is dry
  • Finnish: kuivuus — the degree to which something is dry
  • Finnish: kuivuusaste — the degree to which something is dry
  • French: siccité — the degree to which something is dry
  • Latvian: sausums — the degree to which something is dry
  • Khiamniungan Naga: vāilīang — the degree to which something is dry
  • Russian: су́хость (súxostʹ) — the degree to which something is dry
  • Turkish: kuruluk — the degree to which something is dry
  • Uyghur: قۇرۇقلۇق (quruqluq) — the degree to which something is dry