# abysm

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abysm
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a deep chasm

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a very deep hole or space that seems to have no bottom.

For teachers: a physical or metaphorical abyss; a bottomless gulf or chasm.

- The mountain climbers looked down into the dark abysm below the cliff.
- The explorers stood at the edge of the limestone abysm, watching as their torchlight was swallowed by the absolute darkness of the cavern.

Usage: Usually used with the definite article 'the'.

Teaching tip: This is a rare, poetic version of 'abyss'. Students should recognize it in older literature but use 'abyss' or 'chasm' in their own writing.

### 2. the distant past

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

a long period of time that is hard to imagine or remember.

For teachers: an immeasurable period of time, often referring to the distant past.

- The old legends were lost in the abysm of time.
- The historian attempted to recover fragments of the lost civilization from the dark abysm of time, where most records had long since perished.

Usage: Commonly found in the fixed phrase 'abysm of time'.

Teaching tip: This sense is almost exclusively found in 19th-century literature or very formal modern poetry.

## Examples

- The two groups were separated by an abysm of misunderstanding.
- The hikers stared into the abysm of the canyon, realizing they had lost their way.
- The gap between the wealthy elite and the working class has widened into an abysm, creating social tensions that previous generations failed to resolve.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.