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
Government officials have redirected the river’s water from Isfahan to Yazd and other neighboring provinces for agricultural and industrial use, leaving the riverbed surrounding Si-o-Se Pol dry for most of the year, apart from periods when dams are opened to irrigate wheat fields east of Isfahan.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
The moratorium from the Idaho Department of Water Resources seeks to address water table questions in Southwest Idaho, affecting applications to irrigate some 7,000 acres of farmland.
—Noah Daly
may 7, Idaho Statesman, 7 May 2026
Tulare Lake was once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River, but it was drained to irrigate crops, and has reappeared only occasionally when floodwaters return.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Runoff pollutes water used to irrigate crops and provide water for livestock.
—Abraham Nunbogu, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
The moratorium from the Idaho Department of Water Resources seeks to address water table questions in Southwest Idaho, affecting applications to irrigate some 7,000 acres of farmland.
—Noah Daly
may 7, Idaho Statesman, 7 May 2026
Tulare Lake was once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River, but it was drained to irrigate crops, and has reappeared only occasionally when floodwaters return.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Runoff pollutes water used to irrigate crops and provide water for livestock.
—Abraham Nunbogu, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irrigate
Verb
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Rinse and Refill After scrubbing the bird bath, rinse it with water to remove the vinegar solution.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
29 May 2026
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Wash And Dry The Fruit Place the berries in a colander in a sink, and rinse the strawberries under cold running water.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Local organizations aim to preserve the lake’s pristine condition through monitoring, boat-washing stations, and other initiatives that minimize the impact of waste and control the spread of invasive species.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
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Here, fabric care and pediatric experts share their best tips for washing baby and toddler clothing and bedding safely.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
2 June 2026
Verb
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The microscopic droplets released from a flushing toilet can rise 4 feet in the air and be inhaled or land on bathroom surfaces.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 June 2026
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Because containers require such frequent watering, many nutrients are flushed out from the soil, so fertilize regularly.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irrigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irrigate. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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