Dryly
ˈdraɪli
Definitions
In a manner that is unemotional, matter-of-fact, or lacking in humor.
ˈdraɪli
In a matter-of-fact and unemotional way; without showing any enthusiasm or humor.
"Oh, that's great," she said dryly, not sounding impressed.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone tells a joke, and you give a flat, no-laugh response. Like, 'Oh, that's interesting,' but without any excitement. That's dryly.
👶 For kids: When someone says something without smiling or getting excited, it's like they say it dryly.
More Examples
He commented dryly on the lack of progress in the project.
The comedian delivered his punchlines dryly, allowing the audience to appreciate the irony.
How It's Used
"He responded dryly to the criticism."
"The narrator described the scene dryly, leaving the reader to infer the underlying emotions."
From 'dry' + '-ly'. 'Dry' comes from Old English 'drȳge', related to a Germanic root indicating lack of moisture. The '-ly' suffix is a common adverb-forming suffix.
The usage of 'dryly' has remained consistent over time, often used to describe a tone of voice or manner of speaking.
Memory tip
Think of a desert – dry. A dry response is like that: lacking warmth or emotion.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: drȳge (Old English) - dry, lacking moisture