# abyss

/əˈbɪs/ (US) · /ɐbˈɪs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abyss
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a deep hole

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary

a hole or space that is so deep it seems to have no bottom.

For teachers: a physical chasm or gulf of immeasurable depth.

- The hikers stood at the edge of the abyss, looking down into the dark canyon.
- The climbers peered into the dark abyss of the crevasse, unable to see where the ice finally met the rock floor below.

### 2. a terrible situation

noun · CEFR B2

a very bad or scary situation that feels like falling into a hole.

For teachers: a catastrophic or overwhelming situation that threatens to consume one's stability or sanity.

- After losing his job and his home, he felt he was staring into an abyss.
- The country's economy teetered on the edge of an abyss as inflation reached levels not seen in decades.

### 3. a wide gap

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a very large difference between two groups of people or two ideas.

For teachers: a profound difference or wide separation between two entities, groups, or concepts.

- There is a growing abyss between the rich and the poor in the city.
- The cultural abyss between the two generations made it difficult for them to reach a compromise on social policy.

### 4. the deep ocean

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the deepest parts of the ocean where it is very cold and dark.

For teachers: the regions of the ocean floor, typically deeper than 4,000 metres, where no light penetrates.

- Strange creatures with their own lights live in the deep abyss of the Atlantic.
- Marine biologists utilised remote-operated vehicles to study the unique biodiversity found within the oceanic abyss.

## Examples

- The boat sailed over the dark abyss.
- There is a wide abyss between what the company promised and what it actually delivered.
- Standing on the cliff edge, she felt the abyss below pull at her with a silent, terrifying gravity.

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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.