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.
was washing
-
past progressiveof wash.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
"My brother was washing the car inside the compound when the accident happened," Murib's brother Muhammad Khan told AFP by phone from their hometown of Bannu in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
From Barron's ● Mar. 16, 2026
Cruz’s agent previously told The Times that the actor was washing his car when a group of three women parked within a foot of his vehicle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2025
The 26-year-old DR Congo international sustained a deep cut to his thumb while he was washing the dishes last week.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2024
He decided against college, and he was washing dishes at a bar just before COVID-19 hit.
From Slate ● Jul. 18, 2024
She looked up from the lush green ad.m. leaves she was washing in a pan for the soup.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
