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
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Recent Examples of irrigate
By May of last year, the runoff was so anemic that the creek my family uses to irrigate a grass-hay meadow in central Colorado nearly ran dry.
—
Pete McBride, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
The water is running very fast this time of year because it is being released to irrigate all the surrounding farmland.
—Susan Young, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Today, water from the massive lake, fed by the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, irrigates farms across the Central Valley and provides drinking water for Silicon Valley, including San Jose.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
Pete McBride, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
The water is running very fast this time of year because it is being released to irrigate all the surrounding farmland.
—Susan Young, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Today, water from the massive lake, fed by the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, irrigates farms across the Central Valley and provides drinking water for Silicon Valley, including San Jose.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irrigate
Verb
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Drain spinach and rinse with cold water.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Southern Living,
14 Mar. 2026
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If your dog gets bitten in a remote location where a vet may not be nearby be sure to rinse the wound and reduce blood flow to the area.—
Brianna Taylor,
Sacbee.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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All produce, even organic, should be washed before peeling so dirt and bacteria aren’t transferred from a knife onto the fruit or vegetable.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
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On’s SenseTec Studio leggings come in a mix of neutrals (black and navy) and pastels (washed pink, mint green, dusty mauve, and a wispy blue that’s soon to launch).—
Talia Abbas,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Though compact, it's equipped with storage space, a vanity sink, a flushing toilet, and a shower/bath, which is always a nice bonus in a tiny house.—
Adam Williams
March 10,
New Atlas,
10 Mar. 2026
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The Calypso Deep collects waste from the surrounding sea over time with almost no mechanism to flush it out.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irrigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irrigate. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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