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 of awash

• saturated
• dripping
• bathed
• flooded
• soaked
• washed
• saturate
• soaking

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

Luckily, a platform exists that is positively awash in thrills, and that’s Home Box Office Maximum. —Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026

Benoit Tessier / Reuters Russian media was awash Monday and Tuesday with headlines and analysis about how the soaring oil prices will affect the country, but also its adversaries in the West. —Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 10 Mar. 2026

ViceVersa, now in residency through May in the hotel lobby, is awash in luminescent ambers and leather tones, with acclaimed barkeep Valentino Longo pouring digestivos, bubbly spritzes, and Italian wines. —Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026

The driest place on Earth could soon be awash in wildflowers. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2026

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