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

• 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

The spirits of the three boys then help to defeat the Grabber and he's sent back to the abyss. —Megan McCluskey, Time, 18 Oct. 2025

With each loss, with each mistake Glenn makes — on the field, at the podium — questions about his ability to do the impossible (bring the Jets back from the abyss) intensify. —Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025

These fishes also really highlight the diversity of snailfishes in the abyss. —Julia Gomez, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025

Black Rabbit begins in media res, zooming out from a wallpaper full of rabbits — some mid-hop, others staring fearfully into the abyss with wide, dark pools for eyes. —Andy Andersen, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025

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