wash away

phrasal verb

washed away; washing away; washes away
1
: to carry (something) away by the movement of water
The bridge was washed away by flooding last year.
2
: to get rid of (something, such as unhappy or unpleasant thoughts) completely
Take a vacation to wash away your troubles.

Examples of wash away in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The handwash sink next to the front counter had soap but also food debris inside the sink, which a) says it’s being used for something besides handwashing and b) begs questioning how often it’s used for handwashing if the food debris doesn’t get washed away by water. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 10 Feb. 2026 Since the broccoli isn’t sitting in water, more of its nutrients stay put instead of washing away. Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 7 Feb. 2026 The waters of the Pacific Northwest have not washed away the sting. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026 Fears washed away, cleanse and purify. Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wash away

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Cite this Entry

“Wash away.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wash%20away. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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