dry well

/ˈdɹaɪˌwɛl/

noun

An underground structure (for example, a pit filled with gravel) that disposes of unwanted water (most commonly surface runoff and stormwater and in some cases greywater) by holding it and dissipating it into the groundwater.

Similar
absorbing welldrain wellnegative welldumb welldead wellblind well
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Meanings

noundry well (plural dry wells)

plural dry wells · alternative drywell

  1. businessAn underground structure (for example, a pit filled with gravel) that disposes of unwanted water (most commonly surface runoff and stormwater and in some cases greywater) by holding it and dissipating it into the groundwater.

    Synonyms: absorbing well, drain well, negative well, dumb well, dead well, blind well

  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see dry, well. Any kind of well that is dry.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAn underground structure (for example, a pit filled with gravel) that disposes of unwanted water (most commonly surface runoff and stormwater and in some cases greywater) by holding it and dissipating it into the groundwater.

Similar
absorbing welldrain wellnegative welldumb welldead wellblind well
Also see
dumb well

Origin

From dry + well (in both open compound and solid compound form).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

dry well. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dry%20well

MLA

“dry well.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dry%20well. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dry well,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dry%20well.

Source: dry well on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.