abyss

noun

ə-ˈbis 

a-

also ˈa-(ˌ)bis

1

a

: an immeasurably deep gulf or great space

gazed down into the gaping abyss

the ocean's abysses

(figurative) a widening abyss between the rich and the poor

b

: intellectual or moral depths

an abyss of moral depravity

an abyss of despair

2

: the bottomless gulf, pit, or chaos of the old cosmogonies

Synonyms of abyss

• ocean
• chasm
• gulf
• expanse
• deep

Examples of abyss in a Sentence

looking down at the dark ocean from the ship's rail, the cruise passenger felt as though he was staring into an abyss

Recent Examples on the Web

All this might be too much for the Ravens who have seen this season that opened with Jackson and much promise sink into an abyss of uncertainty. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026

So much of its short runtime is spent staring into an empty abyss. — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 31 Oct. 2026

For one day at least, the Thunder looked into the abyss and found hope in the next generation of players who suddenly will be thrust to the forefront. — John Hollinger, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Into the abyss walks the most unsuspecting of would-be heroes. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin abyssus, borrowed from Greek ábyssos "bottomless, unfathomable, (as noun) bottomless gulf," from a- a- entry 2 + byssós "depth of the sea," probably going back to *byth-yos, derivative of bythós "depth, deepest part, bottom," probably of pre-Greek substratal origin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for abyss

• amiss
• chlamys
• dismiss
• premiss
• remiss
• bis
• bliss
• criss
• dis
• diss
• hiss
• kiss

Kids Definition

abyss

noun

ə-ˈbis 

: a gulf so deep or a space so great that it cannot be measured