clothesline

1 of 2

noun

clothes·​line ˈklōz-ˌlīn How to pronounce clothesline (audio)
also ˈklōt͟hz-
: a line (as of cord) on which clothes may be hung to dry

clothesline

2 of 2

verb

clotheslined; clotheslining; clotheslines

transitive verb

: to knock down (someone, such as a football player) by catching by the neck with an outstretched arm

Examples of clothesline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Punk jumped on the barricade and hit a flying clothesline. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026 This was illustrated as a student slowly made his way along the clothesline of shirts, stopping and reading each one. Mindy Schauer, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
Balor clotheslined Mysterio, hit him with a chair multiple times before wrapping his head in between the chair and drop-kicking him into the corner. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026 The fight returned to the ring, and Rhodes clotheslined Fatu to the outside before hitting a dive. Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for clothesline

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clothesline was in 1830

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clothesline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clothesline. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

clothesline

noun
clothes·​line
-ˌlīn
: a line (as of cord) on which clothes may be hung to dry
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