wash
verb (used with object)
to apply water or some other liquid to (something or someone) for the purpose of cleansing; cleanse by dipping, rubbing, or scrubbing in water or some other liquid.
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wash
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Wash.
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-wash
-washa combining form extracted from whitewash and added to a word that names a trend, a fad, or something otherwise deemed desirable, with the meaning “to give the appearance of,” indicating that the affiliation or association with the named thing is not genuine, as in a rebranding effort that attempts to cover up any negative facts or publicity: What real benefit is there for breast cancer research in pinkwashing products every October?
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Wash
Washnouna shallow inlet of the North Sea on the E coast of England, between Lincolnshire and Norfolk
wash
1 American
[wosh, wawsh]
/ wɒʃ, wɔʃ /
verb (used with object)
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washes,
present (3rd person singular)
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washed,
past participle, past
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washing
present participle
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to apply water or some other liquid to (something or someone) for the purpose of cleansing; cleanse by dipping, rubbing, or scrubbing in water or some other liquid.
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to remove (dirt, stains, paint, or any matter) by or as by the action of water (usually followed by out, off, etc.).
to wash grime out of clothing.
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to free from spiritual defilement or from sin, guilt, etc..
to be washed whiter than the snow.
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to bathe, wet, or moisten with water or other liquid.
a meadow newly washed with morning dew.
- Synonyms:
- bedew
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to flow through, over, or against.
a shore or cliff washed by waves.
- Synonyms:
- bathe
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to carry, bring, remove, or deposit (something) by means of water or any liquid, or as the water or liquid does (often followed by up, down, oralong ).
The storm washed the boat up on the shore.
A sailor was washed overboard.
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to wear or diminish, as water does by flowing over or against a surface (often followed by out oraway ).
The rain had washed away the lettering on the stone.
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(of water) to form by flowing over and eroding a surface.
The flood had washed a new channel through the bottom lands.
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Mining.
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to subject (earth or ore) to the action or force of water in order to separate valuable material.
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to separate (valuable material) in this way.
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to purify (a gas or gaseous mixture) by passage through or over a liquid.
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to cover with a watery or thin coat of color.
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to overlay with a thin coat or deposit of metal.
to wash brass with gold.
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Slang. launder.
verb (used without object)
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washes,
present (3rd person singular)
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washed,
past participle, past
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washing
present participle
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to wash oneself.
After using the insecticide spray they washed completely.
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to wash clothes.
Monday is the day we wash.
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to cleanse anything with or in water or other liquid.
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to undergo washing without injury, especially shrinking or fading.
fabrics guaranteed to wash.
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Informal. to be found true, valid, or real when tested or closely scrutinized; stand being put to the proof.
His honesty won't wash.
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to be carried or driven by water (often followed by along orashore ).
The boat had washed ashore in the night.
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to flow or beat with a lapping sound, as waves on a shore.
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to move along in or as in waves, or with a rushing movement, as water.
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to be eroded, as by a stream or by rainfall.
a hillside that washes frequently.
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to be removed by the action of water (often followed byaway ).
Much of the topsoil washes away each spring.
noun
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washes
plural
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the act or process of washing with water or other liquid.
to give the car a wash.
- Synonyms:
- ablution
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a quantity of clothes, linens, etc., washed, or to be washed, at one time.
a heavy wash.
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a liquid with which something is washed, wetted, colored, overspread, etc..
She gave the room a wash of pale blue.
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the flow, sweep, dash, or breaking of water.
The wash of the waves had drenched us.
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the sound made by this.
listening to the wash of the Atlantic.
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water moving along in waves or with a rushing movement.
the wash of the incoming tide.
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the rough or broken water left behind a moving ship, boat, etc.; wake.
The little boats tossed about in the wash from the liner's propellers.
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Aeronautics. the disturbance in the air left behind by a moving airplane or any of its parts.
wing wash.
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any of various liquids for grooming or cosmetic purposes.
a hair wash.
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a lotion or other liquid having medicinal properties, as an antiseptic solution or the like (often used in combination).
to apply wash to a skinned knee;
mouthwash;
eyewash.
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Mining. minerals from which valuable material can be extracted by washing.
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the wearing away of the shore by breaking waves.
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a tract of land washed by the action of the sea or a river.
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a marsh, fen, or bog.
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a small stream or shallow pool.
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a shallow arm of the sea or a shallow part of a river.
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The Wash, a shallow bay of the North Sea, on the eastern coast of England. 20 miles (32 km) long; 15 miles (24 km) wide.
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a depression or channel formed by flowing water.
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Geology. alluvial matter transferred and deposited by flowing water.
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Also called dry wash. Western U.S. the dry bed of an intermittent stream.
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a broad, thin layer of color applied by a continuous movement of the brush, as in water-color painting.
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Also called watershed, weathering. Architecture.
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an upper surface so inclined as to shed rainwater from a building.
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any member of a building having such a surface.
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Metalworking. Also a thin coat of metal applied in liquid form.
a gold wash.
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waste liquid matter, refuse, food, etc., from the kitchen, as for hogs; swill (often used in combination).
hogwash.
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washy or weak liquor or liquid food.
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the fermented wort from which the spirit is extracted in distilling.
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Informal. an action that yields neither gain nor loss.
The company's financial position is a wash compared with last year.
adjective
verb phrase
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wash up
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to wash one's face and hands.
Aren't you going to wash up? Dinner is almost ready.
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to wash (dishes, flatware, pots, etc.).
I'll wash up the dishes, don't bother.
We had someone in to wash up after the party.
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to end, especially ignominiously (usually in the passive).
After that performance, he's all washed up as a singer.
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wash out
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to be removed by washing.
The stain wouldn't wash out.
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to damage or demolish by the action of water.
The embankment was washed out by the storm.
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Informal. to fail to qualify or continue; be eliminated.
to wash out of graduate school.
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to become dim, indistinct, or blurred.
The face of the watch washes out in sunlight.
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wash down
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to clean completely by washing.
to wash down a car.
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to facilitate the swallowing of (food or medicine) by drinking water or other liquid.
to wash down a meal with a glass of wine.
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idioms
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wash one's hands of. hand.
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come out in the wash,
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to have a good or satisfactory result; turn out eventually.
The situation may look hopeless now, but it will all come out in the wash.
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to be revealed; become known.
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Wash.
2
American
abbreviation
-wash
3
American
wash
1
British
/ wɒʃ /
verb
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to apply water or other liquid, usually with soap, to (oneself, clothes, etc) in order to cleanse
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(tr; often foll by away, from, off, etc) to remove by the application of water or other liquid and usually soap
she washed the dirt from her clothes
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(intr) to be capable of being washed without damage or loss of colour
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(of an animal such as a cat) to cleanse (itself or another animal) by licking
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(tr) to cleanse from pollution or defilement
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(tr) to make wet or moist
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to move or be moved by water
the flood washed away the bridge
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(esp of waves) to flow or sweep against or over (a surface or object), often with a lapping sound
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to form by erosion or be eroded
the stream washed a ravine in the hill
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(tr) to apply a thin coating of paint, metal, etc, to
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(tr) to separate (ore, precious stones, etc) from (gravel, earth, or sand) by immersion in water
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informal (intr; usually used with a negative) to admit of testing or proof
your excuses won't wash with me this time
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euphemistic to go to the lavatory
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(usually foll by of) to refuse to have anything more to do (with)
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noun
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the act or process of washing; ablution
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a quantity of articles washed together
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a preparation or thin liquid used as a coating or in washing
a thin wash of paint
a hair wash
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med
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any medicinal or soothing lotion for application to a part of the body
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( in combination )
an eyewash
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the flow of water, esp waves, against a surface, or the sound made by such a flow
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the technique of making wash drawings
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See wash drawing
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the erosion of soil by the action of flowing water
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a mass of alluvial material transported and deposited by flowing water
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land that is habitually washed by tidal or river waters
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the disturbance in the air or water produced at the rear of an aircraft, boat, or other moving object
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gravel, earth, etc, from which valuable minerals may be washed
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waste liquid matter or liquid refuse, esp as fed to pigs; swill
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an alcoholic liquid resembling strong beer, resulting from the fermentation of wort in the production of whisky
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informal to become known or apparent in the course of time
Wash
2
British
/ wɒʃ /
noun
Wash.
3
British
abbreviation
wash
More Idioms
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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washsimple
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washessimple
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have washedperfect
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has washedperfect
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am washingprogressive
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are washingprogressive
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is washingprogressive
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have been washingperfect progressive
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has been washingperfect progressive
Past
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washedsimple
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had washedperfect
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was washingprogressive
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were washingprogressive
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had been washingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of wash
First recorded before 900; Middle English verb washen, Old English wascan (cognate with Dutch wasschen, German waschen, Old Norse vaska ), from Proto-Germanic watskan, equivalent to wat- (root of water ) + -sk- verb suffix + -an infinitive suffix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
I wash and wear the same bike clothes for months—no temptation to buy new outfits—and we’re too scruffy for fancy restaurants.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
"Physicists call this trait universality -- the messy, microscopic details wash out and only a few essential features survive," explains Jason Alicea, William K. Davis Professor of Theoretical Physics.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026
It said modelling cannot accurately predict exactly when and where nurdles will wash up and the complete recovery of every nurdle was not considered achievable.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
Women are recruited to wash away the mud to reveal the nuggets of the precious metal, conceded Jacqueline Djangone, the head of the village women's association.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
“No, we wash in the puddle,” I corrected her.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Born in Yakima, Wash., MacLachlan grew up the oldest of three boys; his parents were solidly middle-class, with his father working as a lawyer, and then stockbroker.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
“Depending on where you live,” even an income of $100,000 “can be just barely enough or nowhere near it,” Audrey Emerson, the owner of Cents of Joy Financial Planning in Bellingham, Wash., recently told MarketWatch.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
After this deployment, the Lincoln and most of its sailors are expected to be reassigned to Bremerton, Wash., rather than their current home port in San Diego.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026
But resources have been stretched thin this season as crews have responded to several wildfires, including devastating fires in Spokane, Wash., that burned nearly 10,000 acres and destroyed roughly 900 structures.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026
She loved the sweetness of the three of them together; she just wished it didn’t mean losing her time with Wash. But he was good, too good, to deny the twins their share.
From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez
“Depending on where you live,” an income of $100,000 “can be just barely enough or nowhere near it,” said Audrey Emerson, the owner of Cents of Joy Financial Planning in Bellingham, Wash.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
Lula, who was previously president from 2003-2010, spent 580 days in jail beginning in April 2018 after being convicted in the sprawling Operation Car Wash anti-corruption probe.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
Barnaby Dorfman, 58, chief technology officer in residence at a private-equity firm in Bainbridge Island, Wash.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
Mario remembers his shift at Harbor Blvd Car Wash on that clear August day.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2026
Wash reached a hand into the bag and groped around for a second.
From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez
The dishwasher camera tailors washes for optimal energy efficiency and finally solves the mystery of what goes on inside there during the cycle.
From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2026
But when Henry Clayton’s Armani-clad corpse washes up on the beach, one person is certain he didn’t take his own life.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
Also collecting: inflation-linked bonds, especially European ones still priced as if the shock washes out.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026
The first rain of the season in particular washes fecal matter from pets and other animals into storm drains and then the ocean.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Relief washes over me that Mom didn’t overstep, but now I feel stupid, because I’ve just given her dirt on me that I didn’t want her to have.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
A powerful nor'easter storm has washed up what may be a shipwreck from the 19th century in Massachusetts, local media said.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
The orange make-up could now be washed off with soap and water, the shoes were more comfortable and the chocolate river was no longer full of cigarette ends discarded by crew members.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
Nonstop swells combined with a “super” El Niño phenomenon have washed away truckloads of sand from Newport Beach and other parts of the California coast, exposing hazards buried a century ago.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
Who among us Dodgers fans cares that he thinks the Dodgers are washed up?
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
“Take you to look where? You washed up five miles away from home. Your mom could be anywhere now.”
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
Robert reminds her when to take her medication, to do her washing and even gives her knitting tips.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
As the Mayo Clinic notes, “processing” can include washing, chopping, drying, packaging and a number of other things.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
"I tried to lift everything up, but I gave up on large electric appliances like the refrigerator and washing machine. I guess they are broken."
From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026
He advises washing new clothes before wearing them, separately so chemicals don’t migrate into other clothes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
Mama now took care of everything—grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, washing our clothes, paying bills and tuition.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
