as in to rinse
to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse
if you get the chemical in your eye, irrigate the eye thoroughly with water
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Recent Examples of irrigate
Gotland is one of the driest places in Sweden, so the hotel also collects all its rainwater to irrigate its crops, fill the natural swimming pool and be used for flushing toilets and showers, using a complex water recycling system.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Kunyu City, in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of northwest China, hosts huge sprinklers that are irrigating over 1,317 acres (533 hectares) of winter wheat fields on the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Increasingly frequent drought, evaporation and water demand — especially to irrigate alfalfa for the cattle industry — have shrunk the level of Lake Powell to 3,526 feet (1,075 meters) above sea level — just 23% of full capacity.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
This new statute requires various property owners, including HOAs, to either remove nonfunctional turf or begin irrigating it with reclaimed water.
—Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Kunyu City, in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of northwest China, hosts huge sprinklers that are irrigating over 1,317 acres (533 hectares) of winter wheat fields on the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Increasingly frequent drought, evaporation and water demand — especially to irrigate alfalfa for the cattle industry — have shrunk the level of Lake Powell to 3,526 feet (1,075 meters) above sea level — just 23% of full capacity.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
This new statute requires various property owners, including HOAs, to either remove nonfunctional turf or begin irrigating it with reclaimed water.
—Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irrigate
Verb
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Avoid rinsing the blueberries before freezing to preserve the natural protective bloom; if rinsed, dry thoroughly.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Apr. 2026
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If making fresh juice at home, make sure to thoroughly rinse raw fruits and vegetables under running water before cutting, peeling, using, or eating them.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Fabric nipple pasties are typically disposable, since they can’t be washed.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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When a body washes ashore in the Long Island vacation town of Amity, police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) tries to close the beaches only to be overruled by the mayor, Vaughn (Murray Hamilton), who fears the loss of tourist revenue.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Authorities stated that Jackson had allegedly placed his mother's body parts in a suitcase and flushed the rest down the toilet after dismembering her.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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The two studies represent the exact type of research that the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which was flushed and re-filled with political appointees last year, would typically review before making such a recommendation.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irrigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irrigate. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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