washed-out

/ˌwɒʃt ˈaʊt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌwɑːʃt ˈaʊt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈwȯsht-ˈau̇t How to pronounce washed-out (audio) ˈwäsht-/ (ame, mw)

washed-out — adjective

1. describes fabric, paint, paper, or other coloured material whose original colour

1.形容詞B1
釋義

describes fabric, paint, paper, or other coloured material whose original colour has become lighter and less vivid, typically after repeated washing or exposure to sunlight

例句

Mei-Lin still wore her favourite washed-out jeans almost every weekend.

attributive before noun describing clothes

The old café's washed-out awning flapped noisily in the afternoon breeze.

attributive before noun: material/location

同義詞
  • faded

    more general — can describe any loss of colour, not necessarily from washing

  • bleached

    suggests colour removal by chemicals or strong sunlight; more extreme than washed-out

  • sun-bleached

    specifically from sunlight exposure, not washing

反義詞
  • bright

    vivid and strong in colour, the opposite of faded

  • vibrant

    full of life and colour, intenser than bright

文法句型

washed-out + noun (attributive)

look / become / turn + washed-out (predicative)

用法筆記

Commonly used to describe clothes, curtains, or furniture fabric that has been washed many times. Can also refer to paint or photographs whose colour has faded from age or sunlight.

常見錯誤

❌I bought a washed-out new shirt.
✅I bought a faded new shirt.
💡'washed-out' implies the fading happened through use, not a style bought new.
❌The light bulb is washed-out.
✅The light bulb is dim.
💡'washed-out' describes colour fade, not weak light.

2. describes a person who looks or feels extremely tired, with little energy and a

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a person who looks or feels extremely tired, with little energy and a pale or drained appearance — for example, after a long day of work, a sleepless night, or intense physical effort

例句

After the twelve-hour night shift, Javier looked completely washed-out.

predicative: look + washed-out after hard work

Yuki felt so washed-out after the final exam that she went straight to bed.

predicative: feel + washed-out from mental effort

同義詞
  • exhausted

    more formal and intense; suggests complete depletion of energy

  • drained

    emphasises emotional or mental energy loss rather than physical tiredness

  • worn out

    similar register; can apply to both people and objects

反義詞

文法句型

look / feel + washed-out (predicative)

washed-out + noun: expression / face / appearance (attributive)

用法筆記

Predicative use ('I feel washed-out') is more common than attributive ('a washed-out expression'), though both are acceptable. Typically informal; in more formal writing, use 'exhausted' or 'drained' instead.

常見錯誤

❌The car engine sounds washed-out.
✅The car engine sounds worn out.
💡'washed-out' for exhaustion applies to people, not machines.
❌I washed-out the dishes.
✅I washed the dishes.
💡'washed-out' is an adjective, not a verb form.