dashed; dashing; dashes
1
: to move with sudden speed
dashed down the hallway
2
: smash
waves dashing against the rocks
1
: to break by striking or knocking
angrily dashed the bouquet of flowers against the table
2
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
Paul Fussell4
: to knock, hurl, or thrust violently
dashed water onto his face
a boat that had been dashed against the rocks
6
: to affect by mixing in something different
His delight was dashed with bitterness.
7
[euphemism]
: damn entry 1 sense 4
Dash it all!
1
a
grammar
: a punctuation mark — that is used especially to indicate a break in the thought or structure of a sentence
b
: a stroke of a pen
2
: a small usually distinctive addition
a dash of salt
a dash of humor
3
a
: a sudden onset, rush, or attempt
make a dash for shelter
b
sports
: a short fast race
won the 100-meter dash
4
: animation in style and action
the verve and dash of her personal writings
5
automotive vehicles
: dashboard sense 2
Put the map on the dash.
6
: a long click or buzz forming a letter or part of a letter (as in Morse code)
a combination of dots and dashes
7
: flashy display
really cuts a dash in his new suit
8
a(1)
: a sudden burst or splash
a dash of rain
(2)
: the sound produced by such a burst
b
archaic
: blow
Synonyms
Examples of dash in a Sentence
Verb
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.
Noun
We made a dash for the exit.
the cavalry officer's dash and enthusiasm inspired his men to follow him into battle
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Recent Examples on the WebAlan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Nov. 2023
With the assistance of a magical Santa's helper, Margaret falls in love with Stacy’s handsome co-worker, while Stacy falls in love with Margaret's fiance, the dashing Prince.
—Dana Feldman, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
Between the dashing main dining room and polished service, however, dinner unfolds like a splurge.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
The Holiday 100 dashes back to Billboard’s charts menu, ranking the top seasonal songs of all eras via the same formula used for the Billboard Hot 100, blending streaming, airplay and sales data.
—Gary Trust, Billboard, 27 Nov. 2023
All Dressed Up The family posed for a dashing Thanksgiving photo in 2016…all while their house was under construction.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023
Bulldogs had inside track to Mountain West championship appearance before back-to-back losses to San Jose State and New Mexico eliminated them from contention
Fresno State’s conference championship dreams were dashed over the weekend, although the Bulldogs still have a bowl berth in their future.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Nov. 2023
There were sunny skies over the Thessaloniki Film Festival this week, with unseasonably high temperatures leading many visitors to reach for the sunscreen while dashing between movie premieres and industry events at Greece’s longest-running film fest.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 11 Nov. 2023
Democrats notched several victories during the 2023 off-year elections, building on the party’s momentum from the 2022 midterm elections and dashing Republicans’ hopes to advance their conservative agendas in a handful of states.
—Cami Mondeaux, Washington Examiner, 8 Nov. 2023
Mark Ewing, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
The spice factor is amplified a bit with age, but there are also notes of oak, caramel, vanilla, cherry syrup, candied orange, prune, and dash of cinnamon on the finish.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 26 Nov. 2023
Screen Time: 7:24 Verdict: Mulligan’s kooky cameo imbues this tragic lush with a dash of camp.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Nov. 2023
One thing that's for the most part a human job is installing the dash and seats.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 21 Nov. 2023
Use breadcrumbs and mayonnaise to help hold the patties together, then add a dash of red chile paste to give them some kick.
—Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Nov. 2023
The dreams themselves are creepily and memorably staged, with unsettling zooms, ominous noises and odd dashes of prosthetic gore.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2023
Find it on Amazon Enhance Your Style with the Elegant Shrug Cardigan
Add a dash of sophistication to any outfit with this Shrug Cardigan.
—Kathy Barr, Rolling Stone, 15 Nov. 2023
To get rid of stains, apply a dash of vinegar and sprinkle some baking soda.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 13 Nov. 2023
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Verb
And the latter was the more traditionally dashing hero who wound up in Slough House due to the machinations of others, rather than something harder to justify like Marcus’ gambling problem or Catherine and Shirley’s problems with alcohol and drugs, respectively.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Nov. 2023
With the assistance of a magical Santa's helper, Margaret falls in love with Stacy’s handsome co-worker, while Stacy falls in love with Margaret's fiance, the dashing Prince.
—Dana Feldman, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
Between the dashing main dining room and polished service, however, dinner unfolds like a splurge.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
The Holiday 100 dashes back to Billboard’s charts menu, ranking the top seasonal songs of all eras via the same formula used for the Billboard Hot 100, blending streaming, airplay and sales data.
—Gary Trust, Billboard, 27 Nov. 2023
All Dressed Up The family posed for a dashing Thanksgiving photo in 2016…all while their house was under construction.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023
Bulldogs had inside track to Mountain West championship appearance before back-to-back losses to San Jose State and New Mexico eliminated them from contention
Fresno State’s conference championship dreams were dashed over the weekend, although the Bulldogs still have a bowl berth in their future.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Nov. 2023
There were sunny skies over the Thessaloniki Film Festival this week, with unseasonably high temperatures leading many visitors to reach for the sunscreen while dashing between movie premieres and industry events at Greece’s longest-running film fest.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 11 Nov. 2023
Democrats notched several victories during the 2023 off-year elections, building on the party’s momentum from the 2022 midterm elections and dashing Republicans’ hopes to advance their conservative agendas in a handful of states.
—Cami Mondeaux, Washington Examiner, 8 Nov. 2023
Noun
Just like the Cayenne received a remake of the dash and center console, a rethink of the entire man-machine relationship, so too Panamera.
—Mark Ewing, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
The spice factor is amplified a bit with age, but there are also notes of oak, caramel, vanilla, cherry syrup, candied orange, prune, and dash of cinnamon on the finish.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 26 Nov. 2023
Screen Time: 7:24 Verdict: Mulligan’s kooky cameo imbues this tragic lush with a dash of camp.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Nov. 2023
One thing that's for the most part a human job is installing the dash and seats.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 21 Nov. 2023
Use breadcrumbs and mayonnaise to help hold the patties together, then add a dash of red chile paste to give them some kick.
—Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Nov. 2023
The dreams themselves are creepily and memorably staged, with unsettling zooms, ominous noises and odd dashes of prosthetic gore.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2023
Find it on Amazon Enhance Your Style with the Elegant Shrug Cardigan
Add a dash of sophistication to any outfit with this Shrug Cardigan.
—Kathy Barr, Rolling Stone, 15 Nov. 2023
To get rid of stains, apply a dash of vinegar and sprinkle some baking soda.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 13 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dash.' 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
Verb and Noun
Middle English dasshen, probably from Middle French dachier to impel forward
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 8b
Time Traveler
The first known use of dash was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing dash
Articles Related to dash
Dictionary Entries Near dash
Cite this Entry
“Dash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dash. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
dash
1 of 2 verb1
: 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
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 noun1
: 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)
Medical Definition
DASH
nounˈdash
: 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
Noun
dietary approaches to stop hypertension
More from Merriam-Webster on dash
Nglish: Translation of dash for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of dash for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dash
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