splash
Americanverb (used with object)
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splashes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
splashed,
past participle, past
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splashing
present participle
-
to wet or soil by dashing masses or particles of water, mud, or the like; spatter.
Don't splash her dress!
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to fall upon (something) in scattered masses or particles, as a liquid does.
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to cause to appear spattered.
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to dash (water, mud, etc.) about in scattered masses or particles.
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to make (one's way) with splashing.
He splashed his way across the pool.
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Logging. to move (logs) by releasing a body of water from a splash dam.
verb (used without object)
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splashes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
splashed,
past participle, past
-
splashing
present participle
-
to dash a liquid or semiliquid substance about.
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to fall, move, or strike with a splash or splashes.
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(of liquid) to dash with force in scattered masses or particles.
noun
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splashes
plural
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the act of splashing.
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the sound of splashing.
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a quantity of some liquid or semiliquid substance splashed upon or in a thing.
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a spot caused by something splashed.
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a patch, as of color or light.
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Logging.
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the act of splashing logs.
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water released, as from a splash dam for splashing logs.
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-
a striking show or impression.
- Synonyms:
- sensation, uproar, impression, ado
verb phrase
verb
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to scatter (liquid) about in blobs; spatter
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to descend or cause to descend upon in blobs
he splashed his jacket
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to make (one's way) by or as if by splashing
he splashed through the puddle
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(tr) to print (a story or photograph) prominently in a newspaper
noun
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an instance or sound of splashing
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an amount splashed
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a patch created by or as if by splashing
a splash of colour
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informal an extravagant display, usually for effect (esp in the phrase make a splash )
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a small amount of soda water, water, etc, added to an alcoholic drink
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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splashsimple
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splashessimple
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have splashedperfect
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has splashedperfect
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am splashingprogressive
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are splashingprogressive
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is splashingprogressive
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have been splashingperfect progressive
-
has been splashingperfect progressive
Past
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splashedsimple
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had splashedperfect
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was splashingprogressive
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were splashingprogressive
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had been splashingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of splash
First recorded in 1705–15; perhaps alteration of plash 1
Explanation
A splash is a tiny amount of a liquid. You might, for example, prefer your coffee with just a splash of cream. A splash can be wet, like a splash of lemonade in your tea, or it can be bright, like a splash of yellow across the oil painting you're working on. You can also use splash as a verb, as when you splash your sunbathing brother with swimming pool water. Splash first appeared in the early 1800's as a variation on the word plash, which had the same meanings and is most likely imitative — in other words, it sounds like its meaning.
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.
See Examples For:
Nvidia has made another big splash, with its board of directors authorizing another $150 billion in stock buybacks.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
In summer, mine is a pan of roasted red onion, red pepper, squash and eggplant, marinated while warm in olive oil, herbs and a splash of red wine vinegar.
From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026
Where many people might see a plant-eating bug with light yellow coloration and a splash of red accents, Sarah Schroeder sees, in a way, Taylor Swift.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
Film makers no longer need large production companies, big crews or A-list stars to make a splash.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
The splash of the lake was in his eyes, and when he reached the place where he thought the creature had been, he couldn’t see it.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
The Sun splashes on millions of fans scrambling to register for Oasis tickets after the band announced another huge tour for 2027 following the success of their comeback last year.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
The Guardian splashes on the same story, reporting that the Electoral Commission has also said it is "considering all relevant information and regulatory steps" in parallel with the police inquiry.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
The Daily Star splashes on the invasion of "indestructible" Argentine ants that are threatening British wildlife and crops.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
And the Daily Star splashes on the King of the North's "new order".
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
I heard splashes hitting the tent all around us.
From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
The crew safely splashed down on April 10 after becoming the first humans in more than 50 years to travel to lunar orbit.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026
At intervals of 20 years and sometimes more often, it has lashed and splashed us, turned our living rooms into muddy aquariums, swept away our cars and houses, and sometimes hundreds of Angelenos.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
"Europe faces winter with lowest ever gas reserves" is the dire warning splashed on the Financial Times' front page due to "Gulf-led shortages".
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
The clouds decided to cluster above and surprise me midtrip, releasing the rain down hard as I finished the journey, weaving as strategically as possible to avoid getting splashed by the cars next to me.
From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026
The rain pummeled the roof and splashed the steps.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
I probably wouldn’t start splashing vinegar into a delicate seafood bisque.
From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026
The 407-foot-tall rocket is embarking on a nearly 10-hour mission in which it is to complete six orbits around the Earth before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
But expectations were raised after a summer of big spending - with Spurs splashing out £302m as well as making two high-profile loan signings.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
The Dream led by as much as 42 points, with Angel Reese splashing 18 first-half points.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
His can of milk rolled down the hill, splashing milk as it went.
From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff
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.
