washup

1 of 2

noun

wash·​up ˈwȯsh-ˌəp How to pronounce washup (audio)
ˈwäsh-
: the act or process of washing clean

wash up

2 of 2

verb

washed up; washing up; washes up

intransitive verb

1
: to be deposited by or as if by a swell of waves
seaweed washed up on the shore
2
: to wash one's face and hands
3
British : to wash the dishes after a meal

transitive verb

1
: to get rid of by washing
wash up the spilled milk
2

Examples of washup in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
To clean your face, either at the gym or back home, Kiehl’s face wash and moisturizer are an invigorating step in any washup routine. Naveen Kumar, CNN Underscored, 23 Sep. 2020 The old washup area became a walk-in pantry A half-wall divides the kitchen from the family room. Elle Decor Staff, ELLE Decor, 5 July 2012
Verb
But that earlier series also kept its Japanese characters at arm’s length, never subtitling the language—a method that prioritized the perspective of John Blackthorne, the English protagonist who washes up on Japan’s shores. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2024 Two of the dead whales – a right whale that washed up on Martha's Vineyard and a fin whale that washed up this week on the Oregon coast – were entangled in fishing gear, which federal officials, who are investigating the deaths, say is a leading cause of whale deaths. USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024 Like bits of sea glass washing up in the surf, Vidrio’s beauty lies in its rounded edges, beguiling haziness, and off-kilter charms. Pitchfork, 14 Dec. 2023 Not unlike any of the other quietly desperate people who’ve washed up under the roof of Elizabeth and her husband, Nick (Stephen Bogardus), in their Duluth boardinghouse in 1934. Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2023 As for washing up, the moonshower option is far more interesting perk than any bidet in our humble opinion. John Vorwald, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2023 This means that, in the past, an English sailor did indeed wash up on the shore in feudal Japan and get wrapped up in the politics. Anhar Karim, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Her body washed up on a symbolic foundational rock where Naples lies. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 17 Feb. 2024 An endangered fin whale was found washed up on Oregon's shore in February, with officials saying it was emaciated and entangled. Li Cohen, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'washup.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1884, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1664, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of washup was in 1664

Dictionary Entries Near washup

Cite this Entry

“Washup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/washup. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

wash up

verb
1
: to wash one's face and hands
2
: to bring to an end the force or value of
a scandal would wash you up as a sports hero
3
: to be deposited by or as if by waves
seaweed washed up on the shore
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