Abyss
noun /əˈbɪs/ — A deep or bottomless chasm; a void without end
Definition
A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm — or figuratively, a profound gulf of despair, ignorance, or difference that seems impossible to cross or fill.
Beyond the definition
The word for depths that cannot be measured. Nietzsche wrote: 'If you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.' The abyss is not passive.
Origin & history
From Greek 'abyssos' — 'a' (without) + 'byssos' (bottom). Literally bottomless. In early Christian usage, the primordial deep before creation.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The submarine lights revealed nothing — the abyss simply absorbed them.
He stared into the abyss of his own failures and found, unexpectedly, something to build from.
An abyss between two people is not always distance — sometimes it is a failure to try.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Abyss” when the meaning fits your context: A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm — or figuratively, a profound gulf of despair, ignorance, or difference that seems impossible to cross or fill.
Synonyms
Antonyms
summit, peak, surface
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Abyss" mean?
Abyss is noun meaning: A deep or bottomless chasm; a void without end. A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm — or figuratively, a profound gulf of despair, ignorance, or difference that seems impossible to cross or fill.
Where does the word "Abyss" come from?
From Greek 'abyssos' — 'a' (without) + 'byssos' (bottom). Literally bottomless. In early Christian usage, the primordial deep before creation.