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

One customer loved Damburger so much that his family asked after his death if they could spread some of his ashes in the restaurant’s flower beds.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

That was under the management of Keith Alexander, a man who would cement his place in the club's history, bringing it out of the ashes of administration to back-to-back play-off campaigns in League Two.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

Curreri's company was appointed by Hull City Council in April 2024 following the removal of the bodies and ashes, when the scene had been released by police.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Moore insists he had never seen Bush mixing up ashes.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

There we find a large clay pot filled with hominy and venison stew, fish on the grill and bread baking in the hot ashes on the ground.

From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone