plural flushes
1
: redness on a person's face because of emotion, heat, etc.
A flush spread over her face at the mention of his name.
2
: the act of cleaning a toilet with a flow of water : the act of flushing a toilet
We could hear the flush of a toilet somewhere in the building.
give the toilet a flush
3
: a sudden feeling or strong emotion
—+ of
a flush of grief/pleasure
He felt a flush of pride in his son's victory.
flushes; flushed; flushing
1
: to cause a strong flow of water to clean (a toilet)
flush the toilet
The toilet flushes automatically.
Note: If you flush something down the toilet you get rid of it by putting it in the toilet bowl and flushing the toilet.
2
a
: to clean (something) with a flow of water or some other liquid
Flush the wound immediately with water.
The doctor flushed her eye with a special solution.
—often + outHe flushed out the car's radiator.
flush out the system
b
: to remove (something) with a flow of liquid
They flushed impurities from the system. = They flushed impurities out of the system.
He used a hose to flush the leaves from the gutters.
3
: to become red in the face because of heat, emotion, etc.
She flushed with anger/embarrassment.
Her face flushed at the mention of his name.
flushes; flushed; flushing
: to cause or force (someone or something) to leave a hiding place
The police flushed the suspects from the building.
—usually + outThe police flushed out the suspects.
The birds were flushed out of the tree.
—sometimes used figurativelyThe committee succeeded in flushing out [=finding] several good candidates.
The agency flushed out a surprising number of tax evaders.
not used before a noun
1
: even or level with another surface
The paneling and the wall should be flush (with each other).
2
informal
: having a large amount of money
He just got paid and he was feeling flush.
—often + withRight now the town is flush with money. [=the town has more money than usual]
1
: in order to be level or even with another surface
—+ with
He arranged the books flush with the edge of the shelf.
2
: in a very forceful way : in a way that makes very solid contact
He landed a punch flush [=squarely] on my chin.
She placed her hands flush against the door and pushed with all her might.
He hit the ball flush.
plural flushes
: a set of cards that a player has in a card game (such as poker) that are all of the same suit (such as diamonds)
She won the pot with a flush.
Cite this Entry
“Flush.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/flush. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
