# wash out

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/wash-out
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To wear away by the flow of water; to erode.

## Examples

- The heavy rain will wash out the dirt path.
- Years of flooding had begun to wash out the riverbank, making the trail unsafe for hikers.
- The ancient inscription, once deep and clear, had slowly washed out over centuries of relentless tides and storms.

## Origin

From wash + out.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.