splash
Americanverb (used with object)
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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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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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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
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has splashedperfect 3rd person singular
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have splashedperfect
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have been splashingperfect progressive
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has been splashingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is splashingprogressive 3rd person singular
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am splashingprogressive 1st person singular
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are splashingprogressive
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splashingparticiple
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splashessingular 3rd person
Past
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had splashedperfect
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had been splashingperfect progressive
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was splashingprogressive singular
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were splashingprogressive plural
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splashedsimple
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splashedparticiple
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.
The prolonged war has meanwhile dampened drivers’ desire to splash out on new cars around the world, the company said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026
Nina and Cody, ecstatic about visiting their neighborhood splash pad, run through fountains and hop in kiddie pools, but protagonist JJ is a bit more skeptical.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026
And for a plant-based version, I love using chickpeas dressed with a splash of olive brine or artichoke heart brine for a little extra salinity.
From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026
In February, Alphabet made a splash by selling tens of billions of dollars of bonds in U.S. dollars, Swiss francs and British pounds.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026
I stood very still so that I didn’t accidentally splash Tina or send stink waves in her direction.
From "Liar, Liar" by Gary Paulsen
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.
