dry up

The phrase "dry up" is versatile, used in various contexts to describe the process of becoming dry, ceasing to exist, or stopping speech.

🇺🇸 US Voice:

🇬🇧 UK Voice:

Definition

B2General

To lose moisture and become dry.

Example

During the drought, the river dried up.

C1Supply

To cease to exist or be available.

Example

As his acting career dried up, he became a screenwriter.

B2Conversation

(informal)To stop talking suddenly, often due to forgetting what to say.

Example

The play was going well until one of the actors suddenly dried up.

A2Household

(British English)To dry dishes with a towel after washing them.

Example

I'll wash, and you can dry up.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "dry up":

dry out dried up dried out dry off run dry hang out to dry dry spell dry pot die away bleed dry dry market dry as a dead dingo's donger high and dry die out die on the vine dry light run out fizzle out boil off use up drain out burn up boil down soak up dry lab