English Reference

Word

washed

US/ˈwɑʃt/

UK/wˈɒʃt/

Definition

adj. used to describe someone, like an athlete or artist, who is no longer as good as they used to be.

adj. a slang term derived from 'washed up', describing a person who has passed their peak and is no longer capable of high-level performance.

Examples

“People say that old striker is washed.”

“Fans debated whether the veteran quarterback was truly washed or just playing behind a weak offensive line.”

“The once-celebrated director faced harsh reviews from critics who claimed his latest film proved he was completely washed and out of touch with modern audiences.”

Examples

simple

“People say that old striker is washed.”

contextual

“Fans debated whether the veteran quarterback was truly washed or just playing behind a weak offensive line.”

complex

“The once-celebrated director faced harsh reviews from critics who claimed his latest film proved he was completely washed and out of touch with modern audiences.”

Usage

Usually follows the verb 'to be'.

Teaching tip

This is very common in sports and gaming communities to mock players who are performing poorly compared to their past.

Real-World Examples

“The monsoon has washed out stretches of laterite, leaving behind mud and loose stone.”
Al Jazeera · 15 Aug 2026
“At the time, some staff - in desperation - used bin bags as makeshift protection , or washed and reused some PPE items.”
BBC News · 14 Jul 2026

Synonyms

finishedpast itover the hill

Antonyms

Idioms

washed out — Very tired and lacking energy or animation.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Common
Updated
Register
Slang, Informal

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/washed

English Reference