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.
had been washing
-
past perfect progressiveof wash.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
A mom asked for one box of diapers because she had been washing and reusing the diapers she had left.
From Salon ● Feb. 4, 2026
Barclay's phone records also suggested he had been washing at the sewage works while camped at Brantham.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2025
Jackson asked Laura Ayala, who had been washing dishes and trying to figure out what to make for dinner when Lopez knocked on her door.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 9, 2024
Two of their mothers had been washing clothes for people who lived near their low-income neighborhood of Dandora.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 20, 2020
The washtub, where his mother had been washing earlier, was open still, and filled the kitchen with a sour smell.
From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin
