rinse

1 of 2

verb

ˈrin(t)s How to pronounce rinse (audio)
 dialectal  ˈrench
rinsed; rinsing

transitive verb

1
: to cleanse by flushing with liquid (such as water)
often used with out
rinse out the mouth
2
a
: to cleanse (as of soap) by clear water
b
: to treat (hair) with a rinse
3
: to remove (dirt or impurities) by washing lightly or in water only
rinser noun

rinse

2 of 2

noun

1
: the act or process of rinsing
2
a
: liquid used for rinsing
b
: a solution that temporarily tints hair

Examples of rinse in a Sentence

Verb I rinsed my face in the sink. He washed the dishes and then rinsed them thoroughly. The tools were rinsed in alcohol. She rinsed the dirt off the lettuce. He rinsed the soap out of the cup. Noun She dunked the dish in the rinse water. Use sanitizing rinse on the scissors. a bottle of hair rinse
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Once the egg is empty, rinse the inside of the egg to remove any remaining membranes. Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Apr. 2025 Who doesn’t rinse out (and ideally wash) a filthy blender filled with milky stuff? Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
And he’s got a prophylactic nasal rinse, which, actually, he’s come to sort of like for reasons that don’t have much to do with COVID. Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025 After a rinse in a communal shower, we were led to the cold room, containing shallow plunge tubs of varying icy temperatures. Vince Aletti, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rinse

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English rincen, from Anglo-French rincer, alteration of Old French recincier, from Vulgar Latin *recentiare, from Latin recent-, recens fresh, recent

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rinse was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rinse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rinse. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

rinse

1 of 2 verb
rinsed; rinsing
1
a
: to wash lightly with water
rinse out your mouth
rinse the apple before you eat it
b
: to clean off with clear water the soap left over from washing
rinse the dishes
2
: to treat (hair) with a rinse
rinser noun

rinse

2 of 2 noun
1
: an act of rinsing
2
a
: liquid used for rinsing
b
: a solution that temporarily tints hair

More from Merriam-Webster on rinse

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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