abyss

noun

ə-ˈbis How to pronounce abyss (audio)
a-,
 also  ˈa-(ˌ)bis
Synonyms of abyssnext
1
a
: an immeasurably deep gulf or great space
gazed down into the gaping abyss
the ocean's abysses
(figurative) a widening abyss between the rich and the poor
b
: intellectual or moral depths
an abyss of moral depravity
an abyss of despair
2
: the bottomless gulf, pit, or chaos of the old cosmogonies

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of abyss in a Sentence

looking down at the dark ocean from the ship's rail, the cruise passenger felt as though he was staring into an abyss
Recent Examples on the Web Cyrus, the tortured poet, could also pour his life into the abyss. —Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2024 During some of the fight sequences, some characters are knocked out and some are thrown off cliffs into the abyss. —Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for abyss 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abyss.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin abyssus, borrowed from Greek ábyssos "bottomless, unfathomable, (as noun) bottomless gulf," from a- a- entry 2 + byssós "depth of the sea," probably going back to *byth-yos, derivative of bythós "depth, deepest part, bottom," probably of pre-Greek substratal origin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of abyss was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near abyss

abysmal

abyss

abyssal

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Abyss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abyss. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

abyss

noun
ə-ˈbis How to pronounce abyss (audio)
: a gulf so deep or a space so great that it cannot be measured

More from Merriam-Webster on abyss

Nglish: Translation of abyss for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of abyss for Arabic Speakers

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