<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-07-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000104894</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WASHINGTON REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WRE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182628</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CRONIN EDMUND B JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6110 EXECUTIVE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 800</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROCKVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20852</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-07-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>36528</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.7654</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>231870.1042</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-07-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7387</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.0532</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>224483.1042</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $34.60 to $35.015. The price reported above reflects the weighted average sale price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the transaction was effected.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $34.94 to $35.16. The price reported above reflects the weighted average sale price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the transaction was effected.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Laura M. Franklin  For: Edmund B. Cronin, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-07-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2008-07-29
0
0000104894
WASHINGTON REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST
WRE
0001182628
CRONIN EDMUND B JR
6110 EXECUTIVE BLVD.
SUITE 800
ROCKVILLE
MD
20852
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2008-07-29
4
S
0
36528
34.7654
D
231870.1042
D
Common Stock
2008-07-30
4
S
0
7387
35.0532
D
224483.1042
D
This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $34.60 to $35.015. The price reported above reflects the weighted average sale price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the transaction was effected.
This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $34.94 to $35.16. The price reported above reflects the weighted average sale price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the transaction was effected.
By: Laura M. Franklin  For: Edmund B. Cronin, Jr.
2008-07-30