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• ashes
  ashes

  plural noun

  ruins or remains, as after destruction or burning
• Ashes
  Ashes

  plural noun

  a cremated cricket stump in a pottery urn now preserved at Lord's. Victory or defeat in test matches between England and Australia is referred to as winning, losing, or retaining the Ashes

ashes

¹ British  

/ ˈæʃɪz /

plural noun

1. ruins or remains, as after destruction or burning

   the city was left in ashes

2. the remains of a human body after cremation

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Ashes ² British  

/ ˈæʃɪz /

plural noun

1. a cremated cricket stump in a pottery urn now preserved at Lord's. Victory or defeat in test matches between England and Australia is referred to as winning, losing, or retaining the Ashes

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Etymology

Origin of Ashes

from the mock obituary of English cricket in The Times in 1882 after a great Australian victory at the Oval, in which it was said that the body would be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia

Example Sentences

But when David contacted the crematorium on Wednesday, two weeks after the funeral, he was told John's ashes had already been scattered despite his request.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026

Now, instead of having a few simple options like a burial or cremation, people may wish to have their ashes turned into diamonds or sent to space.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

I mention the obvious class privilege behind that moment not to cover myself in sackcloth and ashes, but on the way to a different observation.

From Salon • May 31, 2026

He’s come this far to sprinkle his folks’ cremated ashes at the only place he can picture them happy.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

She stands among the ashes, bends down, and sifts through a pile of burnt wood.

From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone