dash

verb

ˈdash 

dashed; dashing; dashes

intransitive verb

1

: to move with sudden speed

dashed down the hallway

2

: smash

waves dashing against the rocks

transitive verb

1

: to break by striking or knocking

angrily dashed the bouquet of flowers against the table

2

a

: ruin, destroy

The news dashed his hopes.

b

: depress, sadden

c

: to make ashamed

dashed by her scorn

3

: to complete, execute, or finish off hastily

—used with down or off

dashed down a drink

dash off a letter

… he dashed off the book in eight weeks …

—Paul Fussell

4

: to knock, hurl, or thrust violently

dashed water onto his face

a boat that had been dashed against the rocks

5

: splash, spatter

Her pants were dashed with mud.

6

: to affect by mixing in something different

His delight was dashed with bitterness.

7

[euphemism] : damn entry 1 sense 4

Dash it all!

Synonyms of dash

• jog
• trot
• run
• speed
• race
• sprint
• gallop
• rush
• hurry
• skip

Examples of dash in a Sentence

I'm sorry, but I must dash. I'm late.

She dashed down the hallway to the bathroom.

People were dashing inside to get out of the rain.

The waves dashed the boat against the rocks.

Her hopes of winning a medal were dashed after she broke her leg.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the Swiss’ dream of advancing was dashed when Ukraine won 3-0 on penalty kicks. —Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 7 June 2026

Twice, Ryan Ward, the next batter, grounded into a double play, dashing any momentum. —Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026

Miami had the resume to excuse that week two loss to Washington, but in the final BCS ranking of the season, the Canes finished third, dashing their chances of competing for a title. —Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026

As Rodriguez carries the ball forward, Widmer dashes inside and pins Slovenia’s left-back, Erik Janza, creating space for Vargas down the wing to enable the switch of play. —Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 5 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dasshen, probably from Middle French dachier to impel forward

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing dash

• cut a dash
• dash cam
• dash it (all)
• dash off
• mad dash
• make a dash for
• swung dash

Rhymes for dash

• ash
• bash
• brash
• cache
• cash
• clash
• crash
• flash
• gash
• hash
• lash
• mash

Kids Definition

dash

1 of 2 verb

ˈdash 

1

: to knock, hurl, or thrust violently

the storm dashed the boat against a reef

2

: to break by striking or knocking

dashed a plate against the wall

3

: splash entry 1 sense 1b, spatter

4

: destroy sense 1, ruin

dash one's hopes

5

: to affect by mixing in something different

the sauce was dashed with vinegar

6

: to perform or finish hastily

dash off a letter

7

: to move with sudden speed

dashed upstairs

dasher noun

dash

2 of 2 noun

1

: a sudden burst or splash

a dash of cold water

2

a

: a stroke of a pen

b

: a punctuation mark — that is used chiefly to indicate a break in the thought or structure of a sentence

3

: a small usually special and noticeable addition

add a dash of salt

4

: liveliness in style and action

a leader of dash and vigor

5

a

: a sudden rush or attempt

made a dash for the exit

b

: a short fast race

6

: a long click or buzz forming a letter or part of a letter (as in Morse code)

7

: dashboard sense 2

Medical Definition

DASH

noun

ˈdash

: a diet that is designed to lower blood pressure and emphasizes the consumption of fruit, vegetables, grains, and low-fat or non-fat dairy products

Etymology

dietary approaches to stop hypertension