as in to rinse
to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse
if you get the chemical in your eye, irrigate the eye thoroughly with water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of irrigate
One family received a portable combine to grind wheat or corn, another a new roof, and another a water pump to irrigate crops.
—
Brianna Randall, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Eco effort The island grows thousands of exotic flowers, plants, and trees in its own nursery and uses wastewater to irrigate common land, and all beaches on the island are protected nesting areas for the endangered hawksbill turtle.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
To prep evergreens for winter, irrigate them with 1 to 2 inches of water weekly until the ground freezes.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Jan. 2026
Another reason to read the label has to do with how to irrigate after the application.
—Larry Figart, Florida Times-Union, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
Brianna Randall, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Eco effort The island grows thousands of exotic flowers, plants, and trees in its own nursery and uses wastewater to irrigate common land, and all beaches on the island are protected nesting areas for the endangered hawksbill turtle.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
To prep evergreens for winter, irrigate them with 1 to 2 inches of water weekly until the ground freezes.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Jan. 2026
Another reason to read the label has to do with how to irrigate after the application.
—Larry Figart, Florida Times-Union, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irrigate
Verb
-
Peeling is not necessary, but scrub and rinse the carrots well before using.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Feb. 2026
-
For this method, Sokolowski suggests sprinkling baking soda on a damp microfiber cloth, then scrubbing the curtain and rinsing with warm water before hanging to dry.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In addition to wash cycles and tending to laundry as soon as the buzzer rings, there are a few other tips to decrease the wrinkles in your wash.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Let the item sit for about 20 minutes so the fat in the coconut oil has time to break down the stain, then wash the item as normal.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The wreckage in the water had been flushed into the North Yuba River and stalled about a mile downstream at the mouth of Englebright Lake in mid-February after a ruptured pipe at New Colgate Powerhouse sent a deluge of water and hillside into the river.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Repeat until the drain begins to move freely, then flush the drain for 3 to 5 minutes with cool running water.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irrigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irrigate. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
