Standard Lemma guide

washing-up

adj · noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˌwɑʃ.ɪŋˈʌp/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌwɒʃ.ɪŋˈʌp/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Of or relating to washing dishes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, not-comparable

Examples

  • This washing-up liquid is kinder to my hands than that one.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The act of washing dishes etc; dishwashing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, uncountable

Examples

  • I’ll do the washing-up if you put it all away.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dishwashing

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the washing of dishes etc after a meal

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: wash, washing, lavation

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: миене на съдове (miene na sǎdove) — washing of dishes etc.
  • Danish: opvask — washing of dishes etc.
  • Dutch: afwas — washing of dishes etc.
  • German: Abwasch — washing of dishes etc.
  • Hungarian: mosogatás — washing of dishes etc.
  • Norwegian Bokmål: oppvask — washing of dishes etc.
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: oppvask — washing of dishes etc.
  • Spanish: lavado de platos — washing of dishes etc.
  • Swedish: disk — washing of dishes etc.