1 C1 neutral
To clean something thoroughly using a strong flow or rush of water
"The crew sluiced out the fish hold at the end of every trip."
separable
sluice out
C1 neutral separable transitive
To wash or clean something out using a strong flow of water
In plain English
To clean something by running a lot of water through or over it
What does "sluice out" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To flush something out using a sluice (controlled water channel)
Actually means
To clean something by running a lot of water through or over it
Usage tip
Comes from 'sluice', a channel or gate used to control water flow. More common in British English. Used in agriculture, engineering, and mining contexts, as well as everyday domestic use for cleaning drains or containers.
Words that pair with "sluice out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
drain tank dock channel pipe hold
How to conjugate "sluice out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
sluice out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sluices out
he/she/it
Past simple
sluiced out
yesterday
Past participle
sluiced out
have + pp
-ing form
sluicing out
continuous
Hear "sluice out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "sluice out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "sluice out"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.