wash down

verb

washed down; washing down; washes down

transitive verb

1

: to move or carry downward by action of a liquid

especially : to facilitate the passage of (food) down the gullet with accompanying swallows of liquid

pizza washed down with beer

2

: to wash the whole length or extent of

washed down and scrubbed the front porch

Examples of wash down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This foot traffic results in significant waste accumulation on the streets, much of which is eventually washed down into the ocean during rainfall or other extreme weather events. —Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025

Everything, of course, was washed down with glasses of red and white wine and champagne, just a few of the dozen options that make up the lounge’s drinks menu, alongside soft drinks, teas, and coffees. —Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 11 Dec. 2024

Be mindful of food waste: Foods that are high in fat, such as gravy, sauces and dairy products should never be washed down the drain. —Earl Foster, Austin American-Statesman, 5 Dec. 2024

The throng of people waiting to wash down a mountain of corned beef on rye with a Dr. Brown’s soda was packed with city residents and tourists. —Ed Shanahan, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1