What does "flushing" mean?
The act by which something is flushed.
Flushing
/ˈflʌʃɪŋ/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act by which something is flushed.
- Grammar: flushing is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: ablution, aglow, beaming, bloom.
- Useful contrasts: blanch, contamination, dampen.
- Usage evidence: "Don't you think it's a cruel, barbarous thing to whip a child . . . ANY child?" exclaimed Anne, her face flushing with earnestness.
How to use "flushing"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "flushing" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "flushing" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "flushing" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "flushing" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "flushing" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ablution" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "flushing", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act by which something is flushed. countable, uncountable
"We tried to repair the toilet, but it broke again after two or three flushings."
- 2 A heavy, coarse cloth manufactured from shoddy. UK, countable, uncountable
- 3 Rushing of blood to the skin's surface, especially on the face, as happens under various physiological circumstances (e.g., in embarrassment or stress or during menopause). countable, uncountable
- 4 A surface formed of floating threads. countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 present participle and gerund of flush form-of, gerund, participle, present
Proper Noun
- 1 A coastal village in Mylor parish, Cornwall, England, across the river from Falmouth (OS grid ref SW8134).
- 2 The town of Vlissingen in the Netherlands. dated
"An example of this was the hourly fast train from Amsterdam via Rotterdam to Eindhoven and Venlo, which used to be combined on the section from Amsterdam to Rotterdam with a stopping train to Flushing."
- 3 A township and city in Genesee County, Michigan, United States.
- 4 A township and village therein, in Belmont County, Ohio, United States.
- 5 A place in New Netherland, particularly, the New Amsterdam area.; A neighborhood of Queens, New York, New York, United States.
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A place in New Netherland, particularly, the New Amsterdam area.; A bay of Queens, New York, New York, United States; in full, Flushing Bay.
- 7 A place in New Netherland, particularly, the New Amsterdam area.; A river in Queens, New York, New York, United States; in full, Flushing River.
Antonyms
Example
""Don't you think it's a cruel, barbarous thing to whip a child . . . ANY child?" exclaimed Anne, her face flushing with earnestness."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "flushing"?
Common synonyms include: ablution, aglow, beaming, bloom, blush, blushes.
How do you use "flushing" in a sentence?
"Don't you think it's a cruel, barbarous thing to whip a child . . . ANY child?" exclaimed Anne, her face flushing with earnestness.
How do you pronounce "flushing"?
Pronounced /ˈflʌʃɪŋ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English flusshyng, flusshynge, equivalent to flush + -ing.
Etymology 2
Named after the dated anglicized Dutch city name Flushing (“Vlissingen”) where the wool was made, from Dutch Vlissingen, further etymology is uncertain.
Etymology 3
From flush + -ing.
Etymology 4
From Dutch Vlissingen.