wry
wry — adjective
- wrypositive
- wriercomparative
- wriestsuperlative
1. used for describing a smile, remark, or expression that shows you can see the fu
used for describing a smile, remark, or expression that shows you can see the funny or ironic side of a situation that is disappointing or annoying
After her flight was cancelled, Tara gave a wry smile and headed to the nearest café.
collocation: wry smile
Bilal made a wry comment about the rain during his wedding, calling it good luck for the crops.
collocation: wry comment
The audience gave a wry cheer when the speaker admitted the project was a year behind schedule.
Nora gave a wry look at her burnt dinner and claimed she had invented a new recipe.
Inês has a wry sense of humour that keeps everyone calm during stressful moments at work.
- earnest
sincere and serious, without ironic distance
文法句型
wry + noun (smile, humour, comment, expression, look)
用法筆記
Almost always used before a noun — typical pairings are 'wry smile', 'wry humour', 'wry comment', and 'wry look'. The word describes an outward expression or tone, not the way a person feels inside (❌ 'He felt wry').
常見錯誤
2. curved or twisted so that it is not in its usual straight position, especially o
curved or twisted so that it is not in its usual straight position, especially off to one side
The old wooden fence had grown wry after years of wind and rain on the hills.
Kemi noticed the painting was hanging slightly wry and stepped over to straighten it.
wry used as predicative adjective for 'not straight' position
A wry branch stuck out from the trunk at an odd angle after the storm.
The doctor said the baby had wry neck and showed the parents gentle stretching exercises.
- straight
the opposite of bent or twisted
用法筆記
Now rare in everyday English. The physical 'bent or twisted' meaning survives mainly in older literature and in the medical term 'wry neck' (torticollis). In modern speech, 'crooked', 'twisted', or 'lopsided' are more common.
常見錯誤
wry — verb
- wrypresent simple I / you / we / they
- wries3rd person singular
- wrying-ing form
- wriedpast simple
1. to bend or pull something from its normal straight form or position; to become t
to bend or pull something from its normal straight form or position; to become twisted out of shape
The blacksmith wried the iron rod into a tight curve with two quick movements.
Rania wried her mouth into an exaggerated frown to make the toddler stop crying.
wried + body part for deliberate facial distortion
The wooden shelf had wried under the weight of too many books over the years.
Caio wried the straw wrapper into a tiny ring while he waited for the bus.
- straighten
to make straight again
文法句型
wry + object
wry (no object)
用法筆記
Mainly literary or archaic. In modern English, 'wry' is almost always an adjective. Use 'twist', 'bend', or 'warp' instead in everyday speech or writing.