Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

wash down

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.44 in modern English

Syllables: wash -down
IPA

18

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To help to swallow (something, especially food or a pill) by drinking a liquid.

Transitive verb

verb

To wash (something) completely from top to bottom.

Transitive verb

verb

To send (something) down the drain by washing action.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"Now we just need a drink to wash it down."
"I had a nice beef sandwich washed down with a pint of bitter."
"Well, we had our breakfast of ship's bread and molasses, washed down with cannikins of something liquid - but not lovely."
"This time we started with melon, went on to salad and cold chicken, next tried some excellent Camembert and finished up with grapes. To wash this down in the enginemen's shanty, we had a nice white Bordeaux, followed by the remains of the Rosé and finishing up with excellent Beaujolais."
"Having just dined on a plate of fried chicken, you wash it down with a can of beer and contemplate that life doesn't get any better than this. Ever wonder what happens next?"
"You must wash the wall down well before painting."

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

washes down (present, singular) washing down (participle, present) washed down (participle, past) washed down (past)

Derived Forms

washdown

Frequently Paired Words

downwash hose down rinse down rinse off wash off wipe down

Synonyms

flush down

Questions

What does wash down mean?: To help to swallow (something, especially food or a pill) by drinking a liquid.

How to pronounce wash down

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “wash down”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “wash down”.
Repeat and practice — Say “wash down” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.