washing

1 of 2

noun

wash·​ing ˈwȯ-shiŋ 

ˈwä-

1

: the act or action of one that cleanses with water

2

: material obtained by washing

3

: articles washed or to be washed : wash

washing

2 of 2

present participle of wash entry 1

Examples of washing in a Sentence

Noun

These shirts will look great even after repeated washings.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

To date, Texas officials have blocked a real estate development that includes a mosque and threatened to withhold state funding from airports that provide washing stations for Muslim prayer, among other steps. — Daniel Benjamin, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026

The facility’s employees lacked food safety knowledge in holding temperatures and ware washing. — Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Water is something children and adults use every single day from brushing teeth, taking showers, washing hands, to drinking water after playing outside. — Kristin Tsumura Tsai, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

After washing, the appliance can move through steam sanitization and hot-air drying before entering a 72-hour antibacterial storage mode, which circulates filtered air to help keep cleaned parts dry and ready for use. — New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing washing

• do the washing-up
• front load/front-load washing machine
• put the washing out
• top-loading washing machine
• washing machine
• washing powder
• washing soda
• washing-up liquid

Rhymes for washing

• quashing
• sloshing
• squashing
• brainwashing
• handwashing
• whitewashing

Kids Definition

washing

noun

wash·​ing ˈwȯsh-iŋ 

ˈwäsh-

: articles washed or to be washed