washout

1 of 2

noun

wash·​out ˈwȯsh-ˌau̇t 

ˈwäsh-

1

a

: the washing out or away of something and especially of earth in a roadbed by a freshet

b

: a place where earth is washed away

2

: something prevented, interrupted, or ruined by rain

The tournament was a washout.

3

: one that fails to measure up : failure: such as

a

: a person who fails in a course of training or study

b

: an unsuccessful enterprise or undertaking

wash out

2 of 2

verb

washed out; washing out; washes out

transitive verb

1

: to wash free of an extraneous substance (such as dirt)

2

a

: to cause to fade by or as if by laundering

b

: to deplete the strength or vitality of

c

: to eliminate as useless or unsatisfactory : reject

3

a

: to destroy or make useless by the force or action of water

the storm washed out the bridge

b

: rain out

the game was washed out

intransitive verb

1

: to become depleted of color or vitality : fade

2

: to fail to meet requirements or measure up to a standard

Synonyms of washout

Noun

• disaster
• failure
• catastrophe
• disappointment
• bust

Verb

• collapse
• fail
• flop
• strike out
• fold
• fall short
• miss
• struggle
• fall flat
• lay an egg
• flame out
• come to grief
• come a cropper
• bomb
• tank

Examples of washout in a Sentence

Noun

He was a washout as a professional golfer.

The team lost so many games that the season was a total washout.

Yesterday's game was a washout.

Verb

most of the participants in the tough training program washed out

the bright lights of the TV studio washed out her facial features, making her look as white as a ghost

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The weekend is not expected to be a complete washout, but passing storms will remain possible Saturday and Sunday. — Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

Still some lingering light rain and breezy conditions across parts of the Northeast for tomorrow morning, but not a washout for most. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

Verb

Water from a massive swell — double the size that was initially predicted — blasted through 20-foot berms erected at the Wedge and washed out roads from about 21st Street to 6th Street, officials said. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

In the bright sunlight of the room, the glossy screen was basically a mirror and was easily washed out when viewed at an angle. — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1540, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for washout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

washout

1 of 2 noun

wash·​out ˈwȯsh-ˌau̇t 

ˈwäsh-

1

a

: the washing away of earth (as from a road)

b

: a place where earth is washed away

2

: a complete failure

wash out

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)wȯsh-ˈau̇t, 

(ˈ)wäsh-

1

: to fade or cause to fade by or as if by laundering

2

: to exhaust the strength or energy

3

: to fail to measure up to a standard

4

: to destroy by the force or action of water

Medical Definition

washout

noun

wash·​out ˈwȯsh-ˌau̇t, ˈwäsh- 

: the action or process of progressively reducing the concentration of a substance (as a dye injected into the left ventricle of the heart)