noun
Uncommon
abyss
uh-BIHS
Abyss (noun) means a very deep, seemingly bottomless chasm or void. Example: “The climbers peered nervously into the dark abyss below.”
noun
1
A very deep, seemingly bottomless chasm or void.
"Below is the deep abyss of the Lauterbrunnen valley, and at its head a stately semi-circle of mountains, with the pyramidal Lauterbrunnen Breithorn as the centre-piece."
— Voyageur, The Mountain Railways of the Bernese Oberland (1960)
"The climbers peered nervously into the dark abyss below."
2
A situation or state of overwhelming trouble, hopelessness, or ruin.
"The country seemed to be sliding into an economic abyss."
How to use abyss
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA bottomless-seeming pit, literal or figurative — used for physical depths or dire situations.
Common pairings
stare into the abyss
the abyss of despair
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Word forms
- Plural
- abysses
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The climbers peered nervously into the dark _____ below.
Etymology
From Greek abyssos, "bottomless," from a- ("not") plus byssos ("depth") — describing a gulf so deep it has no floor.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “abyss” mean?
The word “abyss” means a very deep, seemingly bottomless chasm or void. In plain terms, a bottomless-seeming pit, literal or figurative — used for physical depths or dire situations.
How do you pronounce “abyss”?
“Abyss” is pronounced uh-BIHS (/əˈbɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “abyss” in a sentence?
Here is “abyss” used in a sentence: “The climbers peered nervously into the dark abyss below.”
What part of speech is “abyss”?
“Abyss” is a noun.
Where does the word “abyss” come from?
The word “abyss” comes from Greek. From Greek abyssos, "bottomless," from a- ("not") plus byssos ("depth") — describing a gulf so deep it has no floor.
Is “abyss” a common word?
“Abyss” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “abyss” have?
“Abyss” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a very deep, seemingly bottomless chasm or void.
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