1 B1 neutral
To remove knots or tangles from hair using a brush.
"She sat at the dressing table, slowly brushing out her long hair."
separable
brush out
B1 neutral separable transitive
To remove something by brushing, or to untangle and smooth hair using a brush.
In plain English
To use a brush to get rid of something, like tangles in hair or dirt in a corner.
What does "brush out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To clean the inside of a space or container by brushing debris or dirt out of it.
"He brushed out the chimney before lighting the first fire of winter."
separable
Usage tip
Used in two main contexts: hair care (brushing out knots) and cleaning (brushing out a fireplace, cupboard, etc.). Straightforward and common in both British and American English.
Words that pair with "brush out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
tangles knots hair fireplace corners debris
How to conjugate "brush out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
brush out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
brushes out
he/she/it
Past simple
brushed out
yesterday
Past participle
brushed out
have + pp
-ing form
brushing out
continuous
Hear "brush out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "brush out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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