washed-up (adjective) — Finished; having no future in a particular role; no longer capable, effective or needed.
washed up sounds exactly like washed-up but has a different meaning and spelling. Mixing these up is one of the most common spelling mistakes in English.
washed-up
adjective
Finished; having no future in a particular role; no longer capable, effective or needed.
washed up
verb
To clean the utensils, dishes etc. used in preparing and eating a meal.
Full definition →How to Remember the Difference
- → Focus on meaning first — once you know what each word means, the correct spelling follows naturally.
- → Write a test sentence for each word and save it as a reference.
- → When in doubt, look up the definition — if it doesn't match your sentence, switch to the homophone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a homophone of washed-up?
washed up is a homophone of "washed-up". They sound identical when spoken but have different meanings and spellings.
What is the difference between washed-up and washed up?
"washed-up" means: Finished; having no future in a particular role; no longer capable, effective or needed.. "washed up" means: To clean the utensils, dishes etc. used in preparing and eating a meal.. They sound the same but are used in completely different contexts.
What is a homophone?
A homophone is a word that sounds exactly like another word but has a different meaning and often a different spelling. Examples include "their / there / they're", "to / too / two", and "washed-up / washed up". Homophones are a common source of spelling and grammar mistakes.
How do I remember the difference between washed-up and washed up?
A good strategy is to memorize a short sentence that uses each word correctly, then recall that sentence when you are unsure. For example, focus on the meaning first — then let the spelling follow from context. Reading and writing regularly also helps these distinctions become automatic.