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

Permissive Russian pharmaceutical regulations, for instance, mean the country is awash in counterfeit GLP-1s. —Ben Smith, semafor.com, 1 Dec. 2025

The modern rooms are awash in a calming, subdued palette, with furnishings from Irish designers. —Liam Hess, Vogue, 26 Nov. 2025

Now that retailers are awash in decadent brown denim this season, your classic true blues have some competition too. —Kelsey Stewart, Glamour, 25 Nov. 2025

Another message is that while every person and every line of work has unique stresses, the food and beverage world seems particularly awash in them. —Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 22 Nov. 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