Jump To:

• 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

---

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

---

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

See Examples For:

ashes Ashes

"I've got his ashes, I've got his dog's ashes, pictures on the walls, candles," she said.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

An urn holding her ashes sits by the front door.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

Though her urn remains in the place she loved most, Landers hopes, someday, to bury her ashes in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery next to her youngest son.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

Valeant renamed itself Bausch Health in 2018, and some investors saw value in the ashes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

Fanned by strong winds, the fires reduced Richmond to ashes.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

They then face England in a one-off Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from 11 March, celebrating 150 years of the Ashes, prior to the Indian Premier League.

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

The contest was packed with subplots, many of which are relevant to England for their upcoming tour and next summer's Ashes series beyond.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026

In 2024, England also chose to move on from their record wicket-taker in similar circumstances as they attempted to refresh and build an attack for the 2025-26 Ashes in Australia.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

Prior the first match, McDermott recounted Australia prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui's admiration for the strength of the English pack during last year's Ashes series.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

Ashes drifted into the hollow places in my bones and silted up my brainpan.

From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---