wash·out
ˈwȯsh-ˌau̇t 
ˈwäsh-
washed out; washing out; washes out
1
: to wash free of an extraneous substance (such as dirt)
2
a
: to cause to fade by or as if by laundering
b
: to deplete the strength or vitality of
c
: to eliminate as useless or unsatisfactory : reject
3
a
: to destroy or make useless by the force or action of water
the storm washed out the bridge
b
: rain out
the game was washed out
1
: to become depleted of color or vitality : fade
2
: to fail to meet requirements or measure up to a standard
Synonyms
Examples of washout in a Sentence
Noun
He was a washout as a professional golfer.
The team lost so many games that the season was a total washout.
Yesterday's game was a washout.
Verb
most of the participants in the tough training program washed out
the bright lights of the TV studio washed out her facial features, making her look as white as a ghost
Recent Examples on the Web
Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
With those April showers come clouds that could render viewing the the eclipse a little less thrilling or even a complete washout.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Feb. 2024
No complaints about 3-1 overall last week, but the washout against the spread was a plain bummer.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2024
Not a complete washout forcing you to stay inside, but an umbrella or a good rain jacket might be wise.
—A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 1 Dec. 2023
In 2017, a Lansing resident was killed because of a washout on the same stretch of road.
—Madeline Heim and Brittney J. Miller, Journal Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2023
The buck bedded near an overgrown washout that ran through the corn.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 13 Dec. 2023
Following Tuesday’s washout, today was a comparative winner.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023
More in the way of warmer-than-normal stuff is ahead through the weekend, even on Sunday, which is basically a washout.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2023
Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2024
The homeowners’ next plan is to establish snow fencing and plant dune grass, which, when planted beneath sand dunes, prevents sand from blowing away or washing out with currents.
—Sunny Nagpaul, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024
Direct, harsh sunshine can raise interior temperatures, fade wood floors and dull cabinet finishes, dry out leather, and wash out fabrics.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2024
According to the pros, the main issue with hard water comes down to the buildup of mineral deposits on and in your hair, and the leftover product that can’t be fully washed out, both of which leave behind a residue on the hair shaft.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 2 Apr. 2024
Viewing conditions aren’t ideal, as the bright moon will wash out many shooting stars.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2024
If your shampoo doesn’t lather well and is difficult to wash out, you may be left with excess residue.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
Sound canceling in headphones and car stereos is usually used to wash out continuous, droning background sounds like engine noise.
—Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
The rock reacts with CO2 in the air, sequestering it as bicarbonate, which then washes out to sea.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 14 Dec. 2023
Noun
Medium The weekend doesn’t look like a washout, but showers are possible at times, starting perhaps Saturday afternoon and continuing into Sunday.
—Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
With those April showers come clouds that could render viewing the the eclipse a little less thrilling or even a complete washout.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Feb. 2024
No complaints about 3-1 overall last week, but the washout against the spread was a plain bummer.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2024
Not a complete washout forcing you to stay inside, but an umbrella or a good rain jacket might be wise.
—A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 1 Dec. 2023
In 2017, a Lansing resident was killed because of a washout on the same stretch of road.
—Madeline Heim and Brittney J. Miller, Journal Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2023
The buck bedded near an overgrown washout that ran through the corn.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 13 Dec. 2023
Following Tuesday’s washout, today was a comparative winner.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023
More in the way of warmer-than-normal stuff is ahead through the weekend, even on Sunday, which is basically a washout.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2023
Verb
The video then shows men in uniforms washing out Obidi’s eyes and misting her back with an aerosol spray.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2024
The homeowners’ next plan is to establish snow fencing and plant dune grass, which, when planted beneath sand dunes, prevents sand from blowing away or washing out with currents.
—Sunny Nagpaul, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024
Direct, harsh sunshine can raise interior temperatures, fade wood floors and dull cabinet finishes, dry out leather, and wash out fabrics.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2024
According to the pros, the main issue with hard water comes down to the buildup of mineral deposits on and in your hair, and the leftover product that can’t be fully washed out, both of which leave behind a residue on the hair shaft.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 2 Apr. 2024
Viewing conditions aren’t ideal, as the bright moon will wash out many shooting stars.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2024
If your shampoo doesn’t lather well and is difficult to wash out, you may be left with excess residue.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
Sound canceling in headphones and car stereos is usually used to wash out continuous, droning background sounds like engine noise.
—Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
The rock reacts with CO2 in the air, sequestering it as bicarbonate, which then washes out to sea.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 14 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'washout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near washout
Cite this Entry
“Washout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/washout. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
washout
1 of 2 noun
wash·out
ˈwȯsh-ˌau̇t
ˈwäsh-
1
a
: the washing away of earth (as from a road)
b
: a place where earth is washed away
2
: a complete failure
wash out
2 of 2 verb(ˈ)wȯsh-ˈau̇t,
(ˈ)wäsh-
1
: to fade or cause to fade by or as if by laundering
2
: to exhaust the strength or energy
3
: to fail to measure up to a standard
4
: to destroy by the force or action of water
Medical Definition
washout
noun
wash·out
ˈwȯsh-ˌau̇t, ˈwäsh-
: the action or process of progressively reducing the concentration of a substance (as a dye injected into the left ventricle of the heart)
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