wash
wosh
Wash (verb) means to clean something using water, usually with soap. Example: “He washed the dishes right after dinner.”
verb
1
To clean something using water, usually with soap.
"He washed the dishes right after dinner."
"Remember to wash your hands before you eat."
"I always wash my jumpers by hand so they keep their shape."
2
To wear away or carry something off through the force of moving water.
"Heavy rain washed the topsoil down the hillside."
"The flood washed the small wooden bridge away in the night."
"Waves slowly wash the sand off the beach every winter."
noun
1
The act of washing, or a batch of laundry that has been washed together.
"I still need to hang the wash out to dry."
"She put a quick wash on before leaving for work."
"Dark colours go in a separate wash from the white shirts."
2
A result in which gains and losses cancel each other out, leaving no real net change.
"After paying the fees, the whole trade was basically a wash."
"We lost a little on one deal and won a little on another, so overall it was a wash."
"The two job offers paid about the same, so the choice felt like a wash."
How to use wash
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo clean with water, or (informally) a situation where nothing is really gained or lost.
Common pairings
wash the dishes
wash your hands
a wash of colour
it's a wash
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like wash.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- washes
- Third person singular
- washes
- Past tense
- washed, washen
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ the dishes right after dinner.
Etymology
From Old English wascan ("to wash"), tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "wet" or "water" — the same root behind "water" itself.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for wash
See all rhymes for wash →Frequently asked questions
What does “wash” mean?
The word “wash” means to clean something using water, usually with soap. In plain terms, to clean with water, or (informally) a situation where nothing is really gained or lost.
How do you pronounce “wash”?
“Wash” is pronounced wosh (/wɑʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “wash” in a sentence?
Here is “wash” used in a sentence: “He washed the dishes right after dinner.”
What part of speech is “wash”?
Depending on how it is used, “wash” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “wash” come from?
The word “wash” comes from Old English. From Old English wascan ("to wash"), tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "wet" or "water" — the same root behind "water" itself.
Is “wash” a common word?
“Wash” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “wash” have?
“Wash” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to clean something using water, usually with soap.
What is the difference between washing and cleaning?
Cleaning is the general act of removing dirt by any method, such as dusting, wiping, sweeping, or vacuuming. Washing is a specific kind of cleaning that uses water, usually with soap. So all washing is cleaning, but you can clean many things without washing them. Washing implies water is involved.
What is the difference between wash and rinse?
Washing cleans something with water and usually soap or detergent to lift away dirt. Rinsing uses clean water alone, without soap, to flush off remaining suds, residue, or loosened grime. In practice you wash first to clean, then rinse to remove what the washing left behind. Rinsing is the finishing step.
What are the different meanings of wash?
Besides cleaning with water, 'wash' has several uses. Water can wash over or against a shore; colour can wash out of fabric; and figuratively, an excuse that 'won't wash' is one that fails to convince. As a noun, a wash can mean laundry, a thin layer of paint, or a break-even result.
What is an example of washing?
Scrubbing dishes under the tap, running clothes through a washing machine, lathering your hands with soap and water, or cleaning a muddy car with a hose and bucket are all washing. Each uses water, usually with soap or detergent, to lift away dirt, which is the core idea behind the word.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include wash:
