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
Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2024
Flooding or complete washouts of forest roads and gravel roads were reported in the region, according to the NWS office in Duluth.
—Staff and Wire Reports, Twin Cities, 19 June 2024
Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 27 June 2024
The neighborhood has uprooted trees, live power lines across roads and 100-foot drop-offs in places where roads were washed out, the governor said, urging residents to stay away from the area.
—Chris Boyette, CNN, 26 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for washout 
Noun
Volusia County beaches are still recovering from major washout that occurred during both Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole in 2022.
—Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2024
Flooding or complete washouts of forest roads and gravel roads were reported in the region, according to the NWS office in Duluth.
—Staff and Wire Reports, Twin Cities, 19 June 2024
Verb
And early in the month, the sun's light would've washed out the planets that would have aligned closest to it.
—Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 27 June 2024
The neighborhood has uprooted trees, live power lines across roads and 100-foot drop-offs in places where roads were washed out, the governor said, urging residents to stay away from the area.
—Chris Boyette, CNN, 26 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for washout
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 2 Jul. 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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