flush

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive or intransitive

   To clear or empty something by sending water rapidly through it.

   Grammar: With object: flush the toilet; alone: it flushes.

   Patterns

   • flush something away
   • flush something down

   Remember to flush the toilet.

   She flushed the pipes with clean water.

   The system flushes automatically.

2. 2verbintransitive

   To go red in the face from heat, embarrassment or emotion.

   Grammar: No object.

   Patterns

   • flush with something

   She flushed with embarrassment.

   His face flushed with anger.

3. 3verbtransitive

   To force an animal or person out of hiding.

   Grammar: Usually with out.

   Patterns

   • flush something out

   Dogs flushed the birds out of the grass.

   Police flushed out the suspect.

4. 4nounsingular

   A reddening of the face or skin.

   Grammar: Often a flush of color.

   Patterns

   • a flush of something

   A flush rose on her cheeks.

   The flush of excitement.

5. 5nouncountable

   In poker, a hand of five cards all of the same suit.

   Grammar: Card games.

   Patterns

   • a royal flush

   He won with a flush.

   A royal flush is the best hand.

6. 6adjectiveafter a verb

   Level and even with a surface, or having plenty of money.

   Grammar: After a verb: flush with the wall.

   Patterns

   • flush with something

   The door sits flush with the wall.

   He felt flush after payday.

Word forms

Common combinations

flush the toilet

Flush the toilet.

flush with embarrassment

Flushed with embarrassment.

flush out

Flush out the thieves.

flush with the wall

Flush with the wall.

royal flush

He held a royal flush.

Synonyms and how they differ

blush

Reddening from embarrassment only.

rinse

Gentler washing.

level

For surfaces.

Opposites

Word family

flushed adjective

red in the face

Commonly confused: flush or flesh?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “flush”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words