awash

adjective

ə-ˈwȯsh 

-ˈwäsh

1

a

: alternately covered and exposed by waves or tide

b

: washing about : afloat

c

: covered with water : flooded

2

: filled, covered, or completely overrun as if by a flood

a movie awash in sentimentality

Synonyms

• saturated
• dripping
• bathed
• saturate
• flooded
• washed

Examples of awash in a Sentence

The deck of the boat was almost awash.

the streets were awash from the heavy rains

Recent Examples on the Web

Both women were beaming from the big screens and the fields of the south end of Grant Park were awash in flailing hands and fans snapping in the air. —Jessi Roti, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025

That our bodies are awash in other critters is not a new discovery. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 30 July 2025

For eight days, Dayton was awash in visitors, including journalists, partisans on one side or the other and chimpanzees. —Randall Balmer, Twin Cities, 23 July 2025

The United States will likely be awash in pride and patriotism this time next year, as America celebrates its 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. —Jason Rossi, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing awash

• drowning/awash in red ink

Rhymes for awash

• backwash
• downwash
• mouthwash
• outwash
• panache
• whitewash
• bosh
• frosh
• gosh
• josh
• posh
• quash

Kids Definition

awash

adjective

ə-ˈwȯsh 

-ˈwäsh

1

: washed by waves or tide

2

: floating about

3

a

: flooded or covered with water

b

: filled or covered as if by a flood

an event awash in emotion

Geographical Definition

Awash

geographical name

ˈä-ˌwäsh 

river 500 miles (805 kilometers) long in eastern Ethiopia flowing northeast