wash down

verb

washed down; washing down; washes down

transitive verb

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

Woven materials with high stretch are given denim wash down treatments to bring that look to non-denim apparel like leggings. —Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 28 Jan. 2026

In Bend, Oregon, Outdoor Adventure Belongs to Everyone On a visit to this adventure magnet, Sophie Morgan goes for a trek in the high desert in an off-roading wheelchair and catches an outdoor concert, washed down, of course, with a few pints of local craft beer. —Sophie Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Jan. 2026

Now Savang and Lassiter are finally ready to open Some Luck, their new Thai bar in Poncey-Highland that will serve food meant to be washed down with a cocktail. —Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Jan. 2026

Guests tucked into slabs of soda bread with lashings of butter and chicken pot pie, washed down by flights of Baileys on ice and second helpings from a trifle cart. —Freya Drohan, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for wash down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown