1
: a deep cleft in the surface of a planet (such as the earth) : gorge
built a bridge over the chasm
2
: a marked division, separation, or difference
the chasm between the rich and the poor

Examples of chasm in a Sentence

a chasm in the ocean floor
Recent Examples on the Web But that warning rarely accounts for how wide the chasm can grow between your origins and your destination. Stacia L. Brown, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2023 For example, even though the U.S. is paying its players the same regardless of their gender, there's still a deep chasm between the prize money for the Men's World Cup ($42 million) versus the Women's World Cup ($4.29 million). Town & Country, 28 Aug. 2023 La Habra condo owners see a gaping chasm where their greenbelt used to be. Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2023 This chasm has deep roots going all the way back to slavery, according to experts and civil rights activists interviewed in the film. Stanley Nelson, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2023 The far-right governing coalition’s plan to weaken the courts has set off months of unrest that threatens to widen Israel’s social fissures into yawning chasms. Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 25 July 2023 For Dobson, the new willingness to pay a lot more than before to own a house than rent an apartment might explain why the chasm between actual prices and fair value remains so persistently wide. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 13 June 2023 The two reports put into stark relief the chasm between nations’ stated goals on the urgency of cutting back on fossil fuels and their actions. Bloomberg, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2023 Stunt drivers would jump chasms, hop in exploding coffins, or crash planes. Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chasm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin chasma, from Greek; akin to Latin hiare to yawn — more at yawn

First Known Use

circa 1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chasm was circa 1594

Dictionary Entries Near chasm

Cite this Entry

“Chasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chasm. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

chasm

noun
: a deep split or gap in the earth

More from Merriam-Webster on chasm

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