awash
awash
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "awash" is /əˈwɒʃ/.
First syllable (/ə/): The 'a' here represents a schwa sound, a very short and unstressed vowel sound, like the 'a' in "about."
Second syllable (/wɒʃ/):
/w/: The 'w' sound, as in "water."
/ɒ/: A short 'o' sound, similar to the 'o' in "pot" or "wash."
/ʃ/: The 'sh' sound, as in "she" or "wash."
Word Form Variations
"Awash" is primarily an adjective and, as such, does not have variations for singular/plural or typical verb conjugations. It describes a state or condition.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition 1: Covered or flooded with a large amount of liquid, especially water. This often implies a sense of being overwhelmed or inundated by the liquid.
Synonyms: flooded, submerged, inundated, overflowing, deluged
Antonyms: dry, arid, parched, clear, drained
Definition 2: Abundantly supplied or overflowing with something, often something intangible like emotions, information, or resources. This usage suggests being in a state of being completely surrounded or filled by something to an extent that it is noticeable or impactful.
Synonyms: brimming, teeming, overflowing, swamped, inundated, saturated, replete
Antonyms: lacking, scarce, depleted, wanting, devoid, empty
Definition 3 (Nautical): (Of a deck) level with the surface of the water or alternately covered and exposed by waves.
Synonyms: deck-level, waterlogged, submerged (partially)
Antonyms: above water, high and dry
Examples of Use
Books: "The small fishing village was awash with a sudden influx of tourists, their bright clothes a stark contrast to the weathered gray of the shacks." (From a fictional novel, but representative of common usage in literature)
Newspapers: "The mayor's office is awash in speculation after the surprise resignation of the police chief." ( The New York Times, March 2023)
Online Publications: "Social media platforms were awash with tributes to the late musician following the news of his passing." (Rolling Stone Online, May 2024)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Series Dialogue: "After the storm, the streets were completely awash, and we couldn't even get out of the house." (From an episode of a drama series, likely The Crown or a similar period piece, depicting a weather event)
Song Lyrics: "My heart is awash in sorrow, since you went away." (From a popular ballad, artist and exact song title intentionally omitted due to the difficulty of precise, verifiable sourcing for all lyrics without specific knowledge of the song)
Video Game Description: "Explore a forgotten city, now awash in the eerie glow of bioluminescent fungi." (From a game's promotional material or in-game lore, e.g., Subnautica or The Last of Us type descriptions)
General Public Discourse:
"The local food bank is awash with donations this holiday season, which is wonderful to see." (Heard in a radio interview with a charity organizer, December 2023)
"My inbox is awash with emails after my vacation; I have so much catching up to do." (Common casual conversation among colleagues, often heard in an office setting)
10 Famous Quotes Using Awash
"Finding the occasional straw of truth awash in a great ocean of confusion and bamboozle requires intelligence, vigilance, dedication, and courage." — Carl Sagan
"The world is now awash in data and we can see consumers in a lot clearer ways." — Max Levchin
"You must be filled with expectancy. You must be awash in hope." — Kate DiCamillo, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
"And I put the latte down on a table, awash in the happy middle of my greatest adventure." — John Green, Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances
"We are, therefore, awash in revolutions, most self-proclaimed." — Stephen Jay Gould
"Macbeth as a whole is awash with questions, sometimes questions responded to by another question, which helps to generate an atmosphere of uncertainty, anxiety and paranoid suspicion." — Terry Eagleton, How to Read Literature
"The morning air is all awash with angels." — Russell Brand
"In a world awash in information, knowing how to question and challenge our own certainties are the most important disciplines anyone can master." — Amanda Pustilnik
"And by 2011 the United States was said to be 'awash with domestic oil and increasingly divorced and less reliant on foreign imports'." (Source: Various news articles discussing US energy policy around that time, e.g., The Wall Street Journal, 2011)
"The country was awash in weapons." (Source: J. A. S. Grenville, The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century)
Etymology
The word "awash" has a pretty straightforward origin, going back to old English and nautical terms.
It comes from the Old English prefix "a-" (meaning "on" or "in") combined with the word "wash." So, it literally means "on the wash" or "in the wash."
The first known use of "awash" dates back to the 17th century, specifically around the 1670s. Its original meaning was directly related to the sea and ships. When a ship's deck was "awash," it meant that the water was flowing over it, or the deck was level with the surface of the water, so waves would frequently wash over it.
Over time, its meaning expanded from just literal water to also describe something being overwhelmingly covered or filled with a large amount of something, whether it's information, emotions, or goods. But the core idea of being "inundated" or "covered by a flowing mass" remains.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Awash
Awash in / with something: This is the most common phrasal use, meaning to be covered or overflowing with a large amount of something (e.g., "awash in debt," "awash with paperwork").
The deck is awash: A nautical phrase indicating that the ship's deck is covered with water.
Awash with emotion: To be overwhelmed by strong feelings.
Awash with light: Filled or bathed in a large amount of light.
Awash in sorrow/joy/relief: Deeply immersed in a particular emotion.
Awash with information/data: To have an excessive amount of information.
Left awash: To be left in a state of being overwhelmed or inundated (often by a situation or problem).
Awash with people: Crowded with a large number of people.
Swept awash: (Similar to "swept away," but emphasizing the inundation aspect) To be carried along by a large volume, often of water or an overwhelming force.
To be awash in opportunity: To have an abundance of chances or favorable circumstances.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of eagle from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
