What are the definitions of “wash up”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Clean everything used to prepare food and eat it.
The children WASHED UP after lunch.
- 2When something in the sea or river is left on the shore or bank.
After the crash, several bodies WASHED UP on the beach.
- 3Wash face and hands.
Be sure you and the kids WASH UP before dinner.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “wash up”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb wash up is to clean everything used to prepare food and eat it, such as dishes, utensils, and pots. It is often used to describe the act of cleaning up after a meal.
What are the different verb forms of “wash up”?
| Root Verb | wash up |
| Third Person Singular Present | washes up |
| Present Participle | washing up |
| Simple Past | washed up |
| Past Participle | washed up |
Example
I always wash up after dinner.
Example
She washes up the dishes every morning.
Example
He is washing up the pots and pans from lunch.
Example
Yesterday, they washed up all the plates and cups.
Example
The dishes have been washed up and put away.
What kind of phrasal verb is “wash up”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Intransitive verb
“wash up” is an intransitive phrasal verb because it doesn't require an object to complete its meaning. It forms a complete sentence without an object.
Example
She washed up before dinner.
Example
He washed up after cooking.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“wash up” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
She washed up before dinner.
Example
He washed up after cooking.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “wash up”?
Good things to know
Does “wash up” have an informal or formal tone?
Wash up is a neutral to informal phrasal verb. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can be used in both casual and more formal settings, depending on the context. For example, it can be used when talking about household chores or personal hygiene.
