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

Thirty-five bodies and half a tonne of human ashes were discovered at Legacy's premises by officers in March 2024.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

In March 2024, police found their son's body, still at the funeral home, and the family were told the ashes were not Sunny's.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Michael Gittins travelled on the final service with his wife Lucy as they scattered her late father's ashes in the river.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

Martínez had the man’s body cremated, and stored the ashes in a wooden niche in the shelter’s small chapel.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026

The wind brought the rest of the burning cabin down to ashes, soaking it with icy rain.

From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce