1 B2 idiomatic neutral
For a strong feeling or emotion to suddenly and completely fill someone.
"A wave of relief washed over her when she heard the good news."
inseparable
wash over
B2 neutral inseparable transitive
For a feeling, sensation, or wave of emotion to flow through someone completely, or to let something pass without reacting to it.
In plain English
A big feeling suddenly flows through your whole body, or you let something (like criticism) pass without letting it bother you.
What does "wash over" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To allow something (criticism, unpleasant words, noise) to pass without letting it affect you.
"She had learned to let her mother's complaints just wash over her."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
For water to flow across and over a surface.
Actually means
A big feeling suddenly flows through your whole body, or you let something (like criticism) pass without letting it bother you.
Usage tip
Strongly associated with intense emotional experiences. Often used with feelings like relief, sadness, calm, guilt, and nostalgia. Also used to describe deliberately ignoring or tuning out something.
Words that pair with "wash over"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
relief sadness calm nostalgia guilt emotion criticism
How to conjugate "wash over"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
wash over
I/you/we/they
3rd person
washes over
he/she/it
Past simple
washed over
yesterday
Past participle
washed over
have + pp
-ing form
washing over
continuous
Hear "wash over" in the wild
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