wash down
verb
washed down; washing down; washes down
1
: to move or carry downward by action of a liquid
especially
: to facilitate the passage of (food) down the gullet with accompanying swallows of liquid
pizza washed down with beer
2
: to wash the whole length or extent of
washed down and scrubbed the front porch
Examples of wash down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The two have a laugh and Capote hands her a Valium to wash down with scotch.
—
Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2024
The Field Blend combines cabernet sauvignon, petite sirah, petit verdot, zinfandel and merlot into a smooth, ripe, slightly sweet red, fine for casual sipping or to wash down burgers or takeout kebabs.
—Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024
Think caviar and blinis washed down with Krug 2004 vintage Champagne.
—Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2024
When water from a hot shower or laundry cycle washes down the drain, its excess energy often goes to waste.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Feb. 2024
However, your hunch that the stains washed down with water during a rainstorm seems valid, given what the picture shows.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023
Meet and feed the herd, take some photos — with the reindeer and with Santa — then fill up with Norwegian potato lefse washed down with seasonal drinks.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 3 Nov. 2023
Two dams outside in the mountains above the city collapsed, sending floodwaters washing down the Wadi Derna river and through the city center, sweeping away entire city blocks.
—Samy Magdy and Yousef Murad, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Sep. 2023
The beer no doubt helps to wash down D.C.'s best food truck fare intermixed with the countless beer tents.
—Emily Cappiello, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2023
Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2024
The Field Blend combines cabernet sauvignon, petite sirah, petit verdot, zinfandel and merlot into a smooth, ripe, slightly sweet red, fine for casual sipping or to wash down burgers or takeout kebabs.
—Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024
Think caviar and blinis washed down with Krug 2004 vintage Champagne.
—Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2024
When water from a hot shower or laundry cycle washes down the drain, its excess energy often goes to waste.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Feb. 2024
However, your hunch that the stains washed down with water during a rainstorm seems valid, given what the picture shows.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023
Meet and feed the herd, take some photos — with the reindeer and with Santa — then fill up with Norwegian potato lefse washed down with seasonal drinks.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 3 Nov. 2023
Two dams outside in the mountains above the city collapsed, sending floodwaters washing down the Wadi Derna river and through the city center, sweeping away entire city blocks.
—Samy Magdy and Yousef Murad, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Sep. 2023
The beer no doubt helps to wash down D.C.'s best food truck fare intermixed with the countless beer tents.
—Emily Cappiello, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wash down.' 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
1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near wash down
Cite this Entry
“Wash down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wash%20down. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share