WordGarden.iodash
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /dˈæʃ/
US
- /ˈdæʃ/
Meanings
Verb
to move somewhere suddenly and quickly
to spoil or destroy someone's hopes or plans
to throw or strike something forcefully against a surface
Noun
a short horizontal mark used in writing or printing
a small amount of something, especially an ingredient
a quick rush or short sprint race
Beyond the definition
A "dash" can be many things! It could be the quick way you dash across a street to avoid the rain, or a tiny dash of cinnamon in your coffee. It's also a longer line (— or –) used in writing. Think of it as speed and smallness, both in movement and on the page. You might dash off a quick email, using a dash to connect thoughts or add emphasis.
The verb "dash" implies sudden, energetic movement. In cooking, you might add a dash of hot sauce to finish a dish. As a punctuation mark, it can separate parts of a sentence, often showing a quick change in thought or an interruption. For example: "I was going to go — but then it started raining!"
The word "dash" is surprisingly versatile! It can describe a burst of speed, a tiny quantity, a punctuation mark, or even the act of shattering something—each with its own unique flavor. Imagine an athlete competing in a 100-meter dash; here, the noun refers to a short, high-speed race. As a verb, it means to move swiftly and suddenly: "She dashed out the door, late for her appointment."
But "dash" isn't just about physical speed. It can also refer to a very small amount of something added for effect. A dash of salt here, a dash of pepper there—it's just enough to make a difference without overwhelming the dish. On a darker note, "dash" can mean to strike or smash something violently. You might hear of waves dashing against the rocks, or more figuratively, of someone's hopes being dashed (completely destroyed) by bad news.
Then there's the dash as punctuation. While many people use a hyphen (-), a dash is longer (— or –). The "em dash" (—) is often used to set off a phrase or clause for dramatic emphasis or to indicate an interruption: "He finally arrived — exhausted but triumphant."
In casual speech, "the dash" can also mean the dashboard of a car. Many uses share a common idea: something quick, sudden, or sharply done—whether it's a runner's sprint, a writer working fast, a mark that breaks the flow of a sentence, or news that "dashes" your plans.
Examples
- 1
Street crossing
I dashed across the street before the light changed.
- 2
Urgent movement
She dashed into the kitchen when she heard the baby crying.
- 3
Catching transport
We made a dash for the last train.
- Patternmake a dash for + place/thing
run quickly to reach it
- 4
Quick writing
He dashed off a quick email before the meeting.
- Patterndash off + writing/task
write or make it quickly
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Disappointment
The injury dashed her hopes of playing in the final.
- Patterndash someone's hopes
destroy them suddenly
- 6
Cooking
Add a dash of lemon juice to the soup.
- Patterna dash of + ingredient/flavor
a small amount of it
- 7
Humor
The film is mostly serious, with a dash of humor.
- 8
Punctuation
Put a dash between the two numbers, not a comma.
- 9
Errand
I just made a quick dash to the store for milk.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- dashnounverb
Forms
- dashedpast tenseverbnoun
- dashing-ing formverbnoun
- dashespluralnounverb