shampoo
Americanverb (used with object)
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shampoos,
present (3rd person singular)
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shampooed,
past participle, past
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shampooing
present participle
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to wash (the head or hair), especially with a cleaning preparation that does not leave a soap film.
-
to clean (rugs, upholstery, or the like) with a special preparation.
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Archaic. to massage.
noun
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shampoos
plural
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the act of shampooing.
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a preparation used for shampooing, especially one that does not leave a soap film.
noun
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a liquid or cream preparation of soap or detergent to wash the hair
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a similar preparation for washing carpets, etc
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the process of shampooing
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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shampoosimple
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shampoossimple
-
have shampooedperfect
-
has shampooedperfect
-
am shampooingprogressive
-
are shampooingprogressive
-
is shampooingprogressive
-
have been shampooingperfect progressive
-
has been shampooingperfect progressive
Past
-
shampooedsimple
-
had shampooedperfect
-
was shampooingprogressive
-
were shampooingprogressive
-
had been shampooingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of shampoo
1755–65; earlier champo to massage < an inflected form of Hindi cāmpnā literally, to press
Explanation
Got dirty hair? Get yourself some shampoo and jump in the shower! Shampoo is soap made especially for washing hair. Use shampoo for the liquid soap itself, or for the act of using it: "I don't have time for a shampoo, so I'll wear my favorite cowboy hat." It's also a verb: "I love the way my hair smells after I shampoo it!" You can also shampoo a carpet—or a dog. Shampoo originally meant "to massage," stemming from a Hindi root, champo, "press or knead muscles."
Vocabulary lists containing shampoo
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 haven't bought shampoo for eight years," says the 44-year-old sales assistant.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
But consumer staples tend to fare relatively well when the economy slows, as people continue to shop for items like soap, toothpaste and shampoo.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 31, 2026
The bus has a gas generator so clients can enjoy air conditioning on hot days, but there is no water for a shampoo.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
I have to shampoo and condition like three times and then the next day there are still pieces of my hair that are like jelly.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
This is how I handle it at home, but always before a shower, so a bunch of soap and shampoo will go after it and keep everything clean.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
That leaves Unilever to focus on brands including Dove personal-care products, Nexxus shampoos and Olly vitamins.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026
Companies that made the cosmetics, shampoos, and other beauty products sold to teens and tweens, though?
From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2025
“They depend on sales on the shop floor of shampoos and shower gels to actually pay for the medicines for the patients and that’s an unacceptable situation.“
From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2024
However, these "clean" shampoos separate and spoil faster than those made with synthetic stabilizers and preservatives.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 11, 2024
She learned, from women who posted long instructions, to avoid shampoos with silicones, to use a leave-in conditioner on wet hair, to sleep in a satin scarf.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
He spent three hours with a pet groomer, who shampooed a dog while Avi peppered her with questions about her schedule, her training and whether she likes her job.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
In the People story, Steve Doocy, 68, joked that his son had actually been hit by “a stork” and that George had arrived shortly after his son shampooed out any bird goo.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2025
Is it applied to the scalp prior to shampooing for a number of minutes, then shampooed out?
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 21, 2022
“They shampooed my hair, and boy, I felt like a million bucks, for about 20 minutes. Then I was ready to go lay down again.”
From Washington Times ● Oct. 20, 2018
He was still awake when Nancy arrived home at one o’clock in the morning, looking fresh and clean, having taken a shower and shampooed her hair on her way out of Level 4.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
She also taught the fathers basic hair-care techniques, including shampooing, detangling, checking for lice and how to tie ponytails and braids.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
Is it applied to the scalp prior to shampooing for a number of minutes, then shampooed out?
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 21, 2022
Drought conditions are so bad in Northern Italy that the mayor of the Italian town of Castenaso is fining salons that practice double shampooing.
From Slate ● Jul. 1, 2022
There are many examples of companies creating problems they then solve, from the marketing of cosmetics to the origin of women's razors to how shampooing more frequently came about.
From Salon ● Jun. 7, 2022
The wet-dog scent of shampooing going on in the back room.
From "A Boy Called Bat" by Elana K. Arnold
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