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
The canal irrigates more than 108 square miles, the district said.
—
Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2025
In addition to water that irrigated the crops, water supply was raised from the Nile and its waterways by means of the shaduf, a levering device with a long pole, until after the pharaonic period when the Persian Wheel or saqia arrived, typically turned by a pair of oxen.
—Vanessa Taylor, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025
After overseeding, irrigate 3 to 4 times a day for the first 7 to 10 days or until the seed germinates.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2025
So the creekbed was designed to move the water across the front yard and guide it down to the street; any residual water can irrigate the plants.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2025
In addition to water that irrigated the crops, water supply was raised from the Nile and its waterways by means of the shaduf, a levering device with a long pole, until after the pharaonic period when the Persian Wheel or saqia arrived, typically turned by a pair of oxen.
—Vanessa Taylor, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025
After overseeding, irrigate 3 to 4 times a day for the first 7 to 10 days or until the seed germinates.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2025
So the creekbed was designed to move the water across the front yard and guide it down to the street; any residual water can irrigate the plants.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irrigate
Verb
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There is no need to rinse, but make sure surfaces stay wet for at least two minutes before air drying.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Jan. 2026
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Wipe away the cleaning solution with a soft cloth, then rinse with warm water.—
Barbara Bellesi Zito,
Southern Living,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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There was also a punt-blocking Isaiah Simmons, an intercepting Mike Jackson, and a swell of 73,000-plus standing souls, washing the stadium in noise and blue and joy.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
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In Iranian Muslim culture, dead bodies are typically washed and then covered in white cotton fabric before burial.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Perhaps a championship will be needed to fully flush the frustration of 20 years of underachievement.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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After about three hours of trying to get Alas to surrender, officers used a water hose from an armored vehicle to flush him out.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irrigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irrigate. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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