abyss
noun
a deep, immeasurable space, gulf, or cavity; vast chasm.
abyss
1 American
[uh-bis]
/ əˈbɪs /
noun
-
a deep, immeasurable space, gulf, or cavity; vast chasm.
-
anything that seems to be without end or is impossible to measure, define, or comprehend.
the abyss of their grief and sorrow.
-
(in ancient cosmogony)
-
the primal chaos before Creation.
-
the infernal regions; hell.
-
a subterranean ocean.
-
Abyss.
2
American
abbreviation
-
Abyssinia.
-
Abyssinian.
abyss
British
/ əˈbɪs /
noun
-
a very deep or unfathomable gorge or chasm
-
anything that appears to be endless or immeasurably deep, such as time, despair, or shame
-
hell or the infernal regions conceived of as a bottomless pit
Etymology
Origin of abyss
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English abissus, from Late Latin abyssus, from Greek ábyssos “bottomless,” equivalent to a- a- 6 + byssós “bottom of the sea”
Explanation
The noun abyss refers to a deep void or chasm — either literal or figurative. Making a momentous life decision with great uncertainty, like enrolling in clown college, might feel like jumping into the abyss. Traditionally, the abyss referred to the "bottomless pit" of Hell. Now it might refer to either a literal chasm or a figurative one: "Thirty years ago, we peered into this abyss and pulled back just in time." The word is sometimes used to describe a wide difference between cultures or nations. Abyss comes from Greek: a- "without" + byssos, "depth, bottom." You may know the related adjective abysmal, which means "appallingly bad" — or "way down in the depths," as it were.
Vocabulary lists containing abyss
Night
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Grade 9, List 5
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 19–24
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Someone seems nervous, and it’s our assumption that alien colonies do live underwater and that James Cameron’s The Abyss was a documentary.
From Slate • Feb. 21, 2026
Hundreds of creatives, cast and crew work tirelessly to create a realistic Hawkins, Upside Down and Abyss to a tight deadline and, at times, without a complete script.
From BBC • Jan. 13, 2026
The strategizing comes to a quietly operatic climax in Episode 8, “The Abyss of Life.”
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 6, 2024
The first, Epitaphs From the Abyss, coming in July, will be horror focused; Cruel Universe, the second, arrives in August and will tell science fiction stories.
From New York Times • Feb. 19, 2024
Abyss in her gut, desert in her throat—Marie-Laure takes one of the cans of food from her coat.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
