abyss
gb/əbˈɪs/ us/əbˈɪs/
B2
Inglês
~ 7500
Acepções
0 acepção
Substantivo
B2
entity
1
very deep or bottomless hole
A very deep and dark hole in the ground, sea, or space that seems to have no bottom.
Padrão de uso:
to fall into an abyss
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use "abyss" for any normal hole or gap. It should be used only for very deep, extreme openings, not for small holes in the ground or a simple space between objects.
Sinônimos
chasm (Very similar, but used more generally for any deep, narrow opening in the earth.)
|
pit (Usually suggests a smaller or less dramatic hole than an abyss.)
Antônimos
surface (Refers to the flat top level, the opposite of a deep hole.)
Colocações
bottomless abyss
|deep abyss
|dark abyss
|fall into the abyss
|edge of the abyss
Temas
nature
|geography
|danger
|space
Exemplos
- The climbers stopped at the edge of the abyss, afraid to take another step.
- A fragile rope bridge stretched across the icy abyss between the cliffs.
- The submarine disappeared into the black abyss of the ocean floor.
- One wrong step and the car would have plunged into the rocky abyss below.
Exemplos para estudantes
- We stood at the edge of the deep abyss.
- The dark abyss between the mountains looked very scary.
- The car almost fell into the abyss on the side of the road.
- His flashlight could not reach the bottom of the abyss.
Substantivo
literary
C1
state
2
state of total misery or disaster
A very bad and painful situation or feeling with almost no hope or way to escape.
Padrão de uso:
an abyss of [emotion/problem]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes say "an abyss in despair" instead of the correct pattern "an abyss of despair". Also, some use "abyss" for a normal, not very serious problem; in this sense it should describe an extreme, almost hopeless situation.
Sinônimos
despair (Focuses more directly on the feeling of having no hope, rather than the whole situation.)
|
ruin (Stresses complete failure or destruction, less emotional than "abyss".)
Antônimos
hope (Represents a positive feeling and expectation for the future, the opposite of an abyss of despair.)
Colocações
abyss of despair
|abyss of poverty
|abyss of debt
|plunged into an abyss
|pulled back from the abyss
Temas
emotions
|society
|conflict
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- After losing his job and his home, he felt he was sliding into an abyss of despair.
- The country’s economy was pulled back from the abyss by emergency government action.
- The novel follows a family as they struggle to climb out of an abyss of poverty.
- For months she lived in an abyss of grief after her partner’s death.
- The report warned that without reform, the region could fall into an abyss of violence.
Exemplos para estudantes
- She fell into an abyss of sadness after the accident.
- Many young people live in an abyss of debt.
- The new plan helped pull the city back from the abyss.
- He felt he was standing at the edge of an abyss in his life.
- Without support, they could sink into an abyss of poverty.
Substantivo
formal
C1
relation
3
very great difference or gap
A very big and serious gap or distance between groups, ideas, or people.
Padrão de uso:
an abyss between [group A] and [group B]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use the pattern "abyss of" for this sense (for example, "abyss of the rich and poor"). For this meaning, the usual pattern is "an abyss between [group A] and [group B]".
Sinônimos
gulf (Very close in meaning; slightly more common in everyday and news language.)
|
chasm (Similar metaphor for a large separation, a bit more dramatic or literary.)
Antônimos
closeness (Emphasizes a lack of distance or difference, the opposite of a wide abyss between people or groups.)
Colocações
an abyss between rich and poor
|an abyss between them
|an abyss between generations
|bridge the abyss
Temas
society
|politics
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- There is a growing abyss between the rich and the poor in many countries.
- Years of conflict created an abyss between the two communities.
- An abyss now separates the party’s leaders from its traditional supporters.
- The scandal exposed an abyss between what the company claimed and what it actually did.
Exemplos para estudantes
- There is an abyss between the people in the city and the people in the countryside.
- The new law may deepen the abyss between the two groups.
- Education can help close the abyss between rich and poor.
- After the argument, an abyss grew between the two friends.
Gramática
Forma no dicionário
abyss
AFI
GB/əbˈɪs/
US/əbˈɪs/
Sílabas e tonicidade
abyss (1 sílaba)
Formas da palavra
Noun
- Base: abyss
- Plural: abysses
Família de palavras
Forms
abysses
noun
Related words
abysmal
adjective
abysmally
adverb
Advanced or less common
abyssal
adjective
Expressões
gaze into the abyss
1/ɡˈeɪz ˈɪntu ðə əbˈɪs/
idiom
literary
contemplate a very unpleasant truth
To think very deeply about something extremely frightening, painful, or empty in life or in yourself.
Exemplos
- Late at night he would sit alone, gazing into the abyss of his own memories.
- The philosopher invites readers to gaze into the abyss of death and meaning.
stare into the abyss
1/stˈɛɹ ˈɪntu ðə əbˈɪs/
idiom
literary
face something terrifying or empty
To think seriously about a very dark, frightening, or hopeless possible situation in the future or in your life.
Exemplos
- On the night before surgery, he lay awake, staring into the abyss of what might go wrong.
- When the company collapsed, its employees were forced to stare into the abyss of unemployment.
- The documentary makes viewers stare into the abyss of human cruelty.