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
Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
Friday, day two of the four-day festival, was a washout.
—Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 30 Sep. 2024
Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2024
The sound washes out completely as Daryl sees the person firing off the gunshots: Carol, his oldest friend in the world, suddenly standing before him in France.
—Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for washout 
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Noun
Still, Thursday wasn’t a complete washout, thanks in part to cruise ships and cigarettes.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
Friday, day two of the four-day festival, was a washout.
—Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 30 Sep. 2024
Verb
The early November timing is ideal because, on this night, the moon is in its waxing crescent phase and only 11 percent illuminated, meaning our lunar spotlight won’t wash out the shooting stars and fireballs.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2024
The sound washes out completely as Daryl sees the person firing off the gunshots: Carol, his oldest friend in the world, suddenly standing before him in France.
—Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for washout
Dictionary Entries Near washout
Cite this Entry
“Washout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/washout. Accessed 1 Dec. 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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