rinse
Americanverb (used with object)
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rinses,
present (3rd person singular)
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rinsed,
past participle, past
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rinsing
present participle
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to wash lightly, as by pouring water into or over or by dipping in water.
to rinse a cup.
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to douse or drench in clean water as a final stage in washing.
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to remove (soap, dirt, etc.) by such a process (often followed byoff ).
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to use a rinse on (the hair).
noun
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rinses
plural
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an act or instance of rinsing.
-
the water used for rinsing.
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any preparation that may be used on the hair after washing, especially to tint or condition the hair.
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an act or instance of using such a preparation on the hair.
verb
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to remove soap from (clothes, etc) by applying clean water in the final stage in washing
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to wash lightly, esp without using soap
to rinse one's hands
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to give a light tint to (hair)
noun
-
the act or an instance of rinsing
-
hairdressing a liquid preparation put on the hair when wet to give a tint to it
a blue rinse
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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prerinsenoun
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rinsabilitynoun
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rinseabilitynoun
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rinsernoun
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prerinseverb (used with object)
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rinsableadjective
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rinseableadjective
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unrinsedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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rinsesimple
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rinsessimple
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have rinsedperfect
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has rinsedperfect
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am rinsingprogressive
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are rinsingprogressive
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is rinsingprogressive
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have been rinsingperfect progressive
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has been rinsingperfect progressive
Past
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rinsedsimple
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had rinsedperfect
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was rinsingprogressive
-
were rinsingprogressive
-
had been rinsingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of rinse
1300–50; Middle English ryncen < Middle French rincer, Old French recincier < Vulgar Latin *recentiāre to make new, refresh, equivalent to Latin recent- (stem of recēns ) fresh, recent + connective -i- + -āre infinitive suffix
Explanation
When you rinse something, you run water over it. You probably at least rinse your hands before sitting down to eat, and rinse your dishes afterward. After shampooing your hair in the shower you need to rinse it, and many recipes call for you to rinse rice before cooking it. You can also rinse your mouth out, either with water or mouthwash. When it's a noun, rinse means the act of rinsing, or a hair treatment: "After the red rinse, you'll barely recognize yourself." Rinse shares the Latin root recens, "fresh or new," with recent.
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:
“And that is rinse and repeat what happens to really good art and really good movements, and it’s what happened with Afropunk.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
When Panis and his friend, Eddie Huzzey, surfaced, a quick rinse revealed the familiar Guinness branding.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
Flying them, crashing them, rebuilding them, rinse and repeat.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Wash and rinse the rice before soaking it in a fresh bowl of water for 20 to 25 minutes.
From Salon ● Jun. 7, 2026
“Okay, I know it’s weird, but just…open your eyes. Let the water rinse them out.”
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
Every subsequent concert just rinses and repeats the same story.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
Many common whitening products rely on peroxide-based bleaching found in strips, gels, and mouth rinses.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 23, 2026
Instead, he puts a small amount of Dawn, which he buys in bulk to save, into the left side of his sink, adds water and rinses through dirty dishes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2025
The brand touts a variety of products including shampoo, conditioner, a hair oil, a hair mask and a shaking vessel to apply rinses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 20, 2024
Mom is quiet as she rinses the bowls and places them in the dishwasher.
From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day
Jack had reached for a vol-au-vent, swallowed it whole in one bite, rinsed it down with a glass of champagne and seized center stage all in one action.
From Slate ● Aug. 15, 2026
The solution that is not polymerized can then be rinsed away and the electrodes remain.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 15, 2025
We used special grated mittens to wipe the mixture off of our bodies in the private zen garden, then rinsed off in the shower.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2025
They also advised that all food waste shout be put into a food waste caddy and recyclable materials should be rinsed to help stop them being attacked by birds, animals or other vermin.
From BBC ● Mar. 14, 2025
Malcolm rinsed his hands under the kitchen tap and wiped them perfunctorily on a tea towel.
From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman
After rinsing with water, participants consumed three small amounts of their assigned beverage.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026
Kniel said her lab has tested the effects of rinsing cyclospora off produce, and found that it removes some eggs, but not all of them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
In the local hospital, a modest building nestled within the hillside town's trees and high grass, healthcare workers are rinsing both floor and walls with a chlorine solution.
From Barron's ● May 24, 2026
If you're rinsing your plates before putting them in the dishwasher you're doing it wrong, says Andrew Laughlin, principal researcher at consumer group Which?
From BBC ● Feb. 18, 2026
The medicine melted the dark poison; the blackness seemed to be rinsing away and Dragon’s breathing became easier and even.
From "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" by Grace Lin
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