wash

1 of 4

verb

ˈwȯsh  ˈwäsh 

chiefly Midland also

ˈwȯrsh 

 or  ˈwärsh

washed; washing; washes

transitive verb

1

a

: to cleanse by or as if by the action of liquid (such as water)

b

: to remove (something, such as dirt) by rubbing or drenching with liquid

2

: to cleanse (fur) by licking or by rubbing with a paw moistened with saliva

3

a

: to flush or moisten (a bodily part or injury) with a liquid

b(1)

: to wet thoroughly : drench

(2)

: to overspread with light : suffuse

c

: to pass a liquid (such as water) over or through especially so as to carry off material from the surface or interior

4

: to flow along or dash or overflow against

waves washing the shore

5

: to move, carry, or deposit by or as if by the force of water in motion

houses washed away by the flood

6

a

: to subject (something, such as crushed ore) to the action of water to separate valuable material

b

: to separate (particles) from a substance (such as ore) by agitation with or in water

c(1)

: to pass through a bath to carry off impurities or soluble components

(2)

: to pass (a gas or gaseous mixture) through or over a liquid to purify it especially by removing soluble components

7

a

: to cover or daub lightly with or as if with an application of a thin liquid (such as whitewash or varnish)

b

: to depict or paint by a broad sweep of thin color with a brush

8

: to cause to swirl

washing coffee around in his cup

9

: launder sense 3

how the mob washes its money through corrupt bankers

—Vincent Teresa

intransitive verb

1

: to wash oneself or a part of one's body

2

: to become worn away by the action of water

3

: to clean something by rubbing or dipping in water

4

a

: to become carried along on water : drift

cakes of ice washing along

b

: to pour, sweep, or flow in a stream or current

waves of pioneers washing westward

—Green Peyton

5

: to serve as a cleansing agent

this soap washes thoroughly

6

a

: to undergo laundering

this dress doesn't wash well

b(1)

: to undergo testing successfully : work sense 3

an interesting theory, but it just won't wash

(2)

: to gain acceptance : inspire belief

the story didn't wash with me

wash

2 of 4

noun

1

a

: a piece of ground washed by the sea or river

b

: bog, marsh

c(1)

: a shallow body of water

(2)

: a shallow creek

d

Western US : the dry bed of a stream

called also dry wash

2

a

: the act or process or an instance of washing or being washed

b

: articles to be washed, being washed, or having been washed

3

: the surging action or sound of waves

also : something resembling this action or sound

the warm wash of applause that followed her … introduction

—John Updike

4

a

: worthless especially liquid waste : refuse

b

: an insipid beverage

c

: vapid writing or speech

5

a

: a sweep or splash especially of color made by or as if by a long stroke of a brush

in the gray wash of early morning

b

: a thin coat of paint (such as watercolor)

c

: a thin liquid used for coating a surface (such as a wall)

6

: lotion

7

: loose or eroded surface material of the earth (such as rock debris) transported and deposited by running water

8

a

: backwash sense 1

b

: a disturbance in a fluid (such as water or the air) produced by the passage of an airfoil or propeller

9

: a situation in which losses and gains or advantages and disadvantages balance each other

wash

3 of 4

adjective

1

: involving essentially simultaneous purchase and sale of the same security

spurious market activity resulting from wash trading

2

: washable

wash fabric

Wash

4 of 4

abbreviation

Washington

Phrases

wash one's hands of

: to disclaim interest in, responsibility for, or further connection with

Synonyms

Verb

• bathe
• splash

Noun

• marsh
• wetland
• swamp

Examples of wash in a Sentence

Verb

We have to wash the dishes.

Did you wash your hands?

The flooding washed sand and silt all over the area.

The pollution washes into rivers from nearby factories.

Water washed over the deck of the ship.

Waves washed up onto the beach.

Noun

My jeans are in the wash.

We could hear the wash of the waves against the rocks.

The wash from speedboats is dangerous for swimmers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Your bath towels and stinky socks should probably be washed in warm. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025

The tables were empty and the bar deserted, the only sign of life the clank and swish of dishes being washed in the back, through the swinging double doors. —Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025

Noun

Made from stretchy denim in a classic blue wash, the pants are an easy everyday style that’ll go with the basics and sweaters already in your wardrobe. —Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025

Over the course of its rise, some of the genre’s most beloved voices put their own (wash, rinse, and) spin on the romantic hit. —Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English wascan; akin to Old High German waskan to wash and perhaps to Old English wæter water

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wash

• acid-wash
• car wash
• dry wash
• have a quick wash
• it's a wash
• it will all come out in the wash
• pre-wash
• put a wash on
• wash-and-wear
• wash ashore
• wash away
• wash down
• wash drawing
• wash off
• wash out
• wash out to sea
• wash over
• wash overboard
• wash up
• wet wash
• wish-wash

Rhymes for wash

• bosh
• frosh
• gosh
• josh
• posh
• quash
• slosh
• squash
• swash
• tosh
• backwash
• downwash

Kids Definition

wash

1 of 3 verb

ˈwȯsh  ˈwäsh 

1

: to clean with water and usually a cleaning substance (as soap or detergent)

wash clothes

wash your hands

2

a

: to wet thoroughly with liquid

b

: to pass water over or through especially so as to carry off material from the surface or interior

3

: to flow along or splash or overflow against

waves wash the shore

4

: to pour or flow in a stream or current

the river washes against its banks

5

: to move or carry by the action of water

several trees were washed away by the flood

6

: to cover or smear lightly with a liquid (as whitewash or varnish)

7

: to run water over in order to separate out valuable matter

wash sand for gold

8

: to hold up under washing

this dress washes well

9

: to stand a test for truthfulness

that story won't wash

10

: to be worn away by washing

the heavy rain caused the bridge to wash out

wash

2 of 3 noun

1

: the act or process or an instance of washing

2

: articles to be or being washed

3

a

: a piece of ground washed by the sea or river

b

Western : the dry bed of a stream

4

: worthless especially liquid waste : refuse

5

a

: a thin coat of paint (as watercolor)

b

: a liquid used for coating a surface (as a wall) or for washing

6

: material carried along or deposited by running water

7

a

: backwash

b

: a disturbance in the air produced by the passage of a wing or propeller

wash

3 of 3 adjective

: washable

wash fabric

Medical Definition

wash

1 of 2 transitive verb

ˈwȯsh  ˈwäsh 

1

: to cleanse by or as if by the action of liquid (as water)

2

: to flush or moisten (a bodily part or injury) with a liquid

wash the wound with saline solution

3

: to pass through a liquid to carry off impurities or soluble components

intransitive verb

1

: to wash oneself or a part of one's body

2

: to clean something by rubbing or dipping in water

wash

2 of 2 noun

: a liquid medicinal preparation used especially for cleansing or antisepsis see eyewash, mouthwash