# splash

/ˈspɫæʃ/ (US) · /splˈæʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/splash
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to scatter liquid

verb · CEFR B1

to make water or another liquid fly around in many directions.

For teachers: to cause a liquid to scatter or fly about in drops, often by hitting its surface.

- The children love to splash each other in the swimming pool.
- The heavy rain splashed against the windowpane, making it difficult to see the streetlights outside.

Usage: can be used with or without a direct object.

### 2. to publicize prominently

verb · CEFR B2

to show a story or picture in a very noticeable way, like on the front page of a newspaper.

For teachers: to display or publicize a story, image, or piece of information prominently to attract maximum attention.

- The news of their wedding was splashed across every magazine.
- The marketing team decided to splash the new campaign imagery across digital billboards throughout the city centre.

Usage: often used in the passive voice with 'across' or 'over'.

### 3. to spend money

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal · British English

to spend a lot of money on something, usually for fun or luxury.

For teachers: to spend a significant amount of money freely or ostentatiously.

- He decided to splash out on a fancy dinner to celebrate his promotion.
- After receiving her bonus, she splashed out on a designer handbag she had been eyeing for months.

Usage: usually followed by the preposition 'out' and then 'on'.

Teaching tip: This is very common in British English as the phrasal verb 'splash out'.

### 4. the sound or action

noun · CEFR B1

the sound of something hitting water, or the liquid that flies up.

For teachers: the sound made by an object hitting a liquid, or the resulting spray of that liquid.

- We heard a loud splash when the dog jumped into the lake.
- The diver entered the water with barely a splash, earning high marks from the judges for her technical precision.

### 5. a small amount

noun · CEFR B1

a small amount of liquid or color added to something.

For teachers: a small quantity of liquid, or a small but noticeable patch of color.

- She likes a splash of milk in her tea.
- The artist added a splash of bright red to the corner of the canvas to create a focal point.

### 6. making an impression

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

doing something that gets a lot of attention and interest.

For teachers: a striking or prominent effect that attracts widespread attention.

- The new electric car made a big splash at the auto show.
- The young director made a significant splash with her debut film, which won several awards at the international festival.

Usage: commonly used in the phrase 'make a splash'.

### 7. computing screen

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the first image you see while a computer program is loading.

For teachers: an initial screen or image displayed while a software application is loading.

- The app's splash screen features a minimalist logo on a white background.
- Developers often use the splash screen to perform background initialization tasks while providing visual feedback to the user.

## Examples

- The kids made a big splash in the pool.
- I would like a splash of milk in my coffee to take away the bitterness.
- The startup's innovative marketing campaign made a significant splash in the tech industry, attracting several major investors within its first month of operation.

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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.