wash

To clean someone or something with water, often using soap.

• Please wash your hands.
• I washed the dishes after dinner.
• Have you washed your hair today?

How to use it: wash something with something (Wash the floor with warm water.)

Similar words: clean, rinse

Opposites: dirty

Common phrases: wash hands, wash the dishes, wash someone’s hair

If moving water does this, it carries something away or gradually wears it away.

• The flood washed the bridge away.
• Loose sand washed downstream during the storm.
• Waves have washed away part of the beach.

How to use it: wash something away (Heavy rain washed the soil away.); wash something downstream (The flood washed the branches downstream.)

Similar words: sweep away, erode

Common phrases: wash something away, wash downstream, wash something downstream

If water or another liquid does this, it flows over and wets a surface.

• Waves wash the shore.
• Cold water washed over her feet.
• Tears washed his cheeks as he listened.

How to use it: wash over something (Warm water washed over my feet.); wash against something (Small waves washed against the wall.)

Similar words: lap, wet

Common phrases: wash over something, wash against something, wash the shore

An act of cleaning someone or something with water and often soap.

• The car needs a wash.
• I had a quick wash before breakfast.
• She gave the muddy boots a good wash.

How to use it: give someone/something a wash (Give the dog a wash before he comes inside.)

Similar words: cleaning

Common phrases: a quick wash, give something a wash, have a wash

Clothes or other fabrics waiting to be cleaned, being cleaned, or already cleaned.

• Put these socks in the wash.
• She hung the wash outside to dry.
• Is my blue shirt in the wash?

How to use it: in the wash (My favourite shirt is in the wash.)

Similar words: laundry, washing

Common phrases: in the wash, the dirty wash, the clean wash

A liquid used to clean or treat part of the body.

• Use this wash on your face.
• The nurse applied an antiseptic wash to the cut.
• This gentle wash helps keep my skin clean.

Similar words: cleanser, cleansing liquid

Common phrases: antiseptic wash, face wash, medicated wash

The amount of clothes or other fabrics cleaned together at one time.

• This wash contains only towels.
• I did two washes this morning.
• Keep the red clothes for a separate wash.

Similar words: load, load of laundry

Common phrases: a full wash, a small wash, a separate wash

An attempt or event that fails completely.

• The event was a complete wash.
• Without customers, the project became a total wash.
• Our first attempt was a wash, so we started again.

Similar words: failure, washout, flop

Opposites: success

Common phrases: a complete wash, a total wash