noun
Common
washing
WOSH-ihng
Washing (noun) means the act of cleaning something with water. Example: “Washing the dishes by hand is quicker than waiting for the machine.”
noun
1
The act of cleaning something with water.
"Washing the dishes by hand is quicker than waiting for the machine."
"Regular washing of your hands helps to stop germs from spreading."
"Washing the car took most of the afternoon."
2
Clothes, sheets, or other fabric items that need to be, or have just been, washed; laundry.
"I brought the washing in before the rain started and folded it on the bed."
"There is a huge pile of washing waiting for me after the holiday."
"The washing was still hanging on the line when it started to rain."
How to use washing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the act of cleaning something, or the pile of laundry itself.
UK vs US
British English commonly uses "washing" for laundry, where American English tends to just say "laundry."
Common pairings
hang out the washing
do the washing
a load of washing
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Word forms
- Plural
- washings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ the dishes by hand is quicker than waiting for the machine.
Etymology
From Old English wæsċing, built from wash plus the -ing suffix.
Related words
Rhymes for washing
hashing
dashing
lashing
bashing
smashing
flashing
crashing
clashing
trashing
slashing
thrashing
splashing
See all rhymes for washing →
Frequently asked questions
What does “washing” mean?
The word “washing” means the act of cleaning something with water. In plain terms, either the act of cleaning something, or the pile of laundry itself.
How do you pronounce “washing”?
“Washing” is pronounced WOSH-ihng (/ˈwɑʃ.ɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “washing” in a sentence?
Here is “washing” used in a sentence: “Washing the car took most of the afternoon.”
What part of speech is “washing”?
“Washing” is a noun.
Where does the word “washing” come from?
The word “washing” comes from Old English. From Old English wæsċing, built from wash plus the -ing suffix.
Is “washing” a common word?
“Washing” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “washing” have?
“Washing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of cleaning something with water.
What is the difference between washing and laundry?
"Washing" can mean the act of cleaning something with water, or the clothes and fabric items being cleaned; "laundry" usually refers specifically to those fabric items or the room where they are cleaned. In British English, "the washing" and "the laundry" are often interchangeable for a pile of clothes.
Is "washing" countable or uncountable?
In the sense of clothes and linen to be cleaned, "washing" is an uncountable noun, so you say "some washing" or "a load of washing," never "a washing" or "two washings." It takes a singular verb, as in "the washing is dry."
What is the difference between washing and cleaning?
Washing specifically involves water, and often soap, to remove dirt, while cleaning is a broader term that can include dusting, wiping, vacuuming, or polishing without water. All washing is cleaning, but not all cleaning is washing.
What is the difference between "washing" and "washing-up"?
"Washing" broadly means cleaning something with water or the laundry itself, whereas in British English "the washing-up" refers specifically to cleaning the dirty dishes after a meal. Doing the washing means the clothes; doing the washing-up means the dishes.
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