<?xml version="1.0"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../4_X02.xsl"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType>    <periodOfReport>2010-03-09</periodOfReport>    <issuer>        <issuerCik>0000746515</issuerCik>        <issuerName>EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>EXPD</issuerTradingSymbol>    </issuer>    <reportingOwner>        <reportingOwnerId>            <rptOwnerCik>0001232711</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>SABER ROMMEL C</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>1015 THIRD AVENUE, 12TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>98104</rptOwnerZipCode>            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>        </reportingOwnerAddress>        <reportingOwnerRelationship>            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>            <officerTitle>Executive VP-Near/Middle East</officerTitle>        </reportingOwnerRelationship>    </reportingOwner>    <nonDerivativeTable>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-03-09</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>25000</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>9.48</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>A</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>365367.4037</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-03-09</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>25000</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>36.5022</value>                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>340367.4037</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>    </nonDerivativeTable>    <derivativeTable>        <derivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>            </securityTitle>            <conversionOrExercisePrice>                <value>9.48</value>            </conversionOrExercisePrice>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-03-09</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>                <footnoteId id="F2"/>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>25000</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>0</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <exerciseDate>                <value>2003-05-03</value>            </exerciseDate>            <expirationDate>                <value>2010-05-03</value>            </expirationDate>            <underlyingSecurity>                <underlyingSecurityTitle>                    <value>Common Stock</value>                </underlyingSecurityTitle>                <underlyingSecurityShares>                    <value>25000</value>                </underlyingSecurityShares>            </underlyingSecurity>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>0</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </derivativeTransaction>    </derivativeTable>    <footnotes>        <footnote id="F1">The price reported is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $36.48 to $36.5587, inclusive.  The reporting person undertakes to provide to any security holder of Expeditors or to the SEC, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range stated.</footnote>        <footnote id="F2">Options exercised were due to expire May 3, 2010.  Trading window for executives of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. will be closed March 15, 2010 through May 7, 2010.</footnote>    </footnotes>    <ownerSignature>        <signatureName>/s/ Rommel C. Saber</signatureName>        <signatureDate>2010-03-09</signatureDate>    </ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>