abyss

noun

ə-ˈbis 

a-,

 also  ˈa-(ˌ)bis

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

• abysm
• chasm
• deep
• gulf
• ocean

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

Two others, who apparently weren’t, slid helplessly into the abyss as the crowd looked on in horror. —Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2024

The vote in 1994 was a time of hope — but in the weeks before, the country came close to the abyss. —Joao Silva, New York Times, 27 May 2024

Unfortunately, his favorite tools are also his downfall — Adam dies by chainsaw, laughing himself into a gory clown abyss. —Ew Staff, EW.com, 24 May 2024

The photo creates the illusion of a steep abyss as a Baltimorean walks through it. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2024

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

Kids Definition

abyss

noun

ə-ˈbis 

: a gulf so deep or a space so great that it cannot be measured