chasm

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A very deep, narrow opening in the ground or in rock, such as a crack between two cliffs.

   Grammar: Often followed by a preposition of place: a chasm in the rock.

   Patterns

   • a chasm between something
   • a chasm in something

   The hikers stopped at the edge of a chasm and looked down into the darkness.

   A rope bridge stretched across the chasm.

   An earthquake opened a chasm beside the road.

2. 2nouncountablefigurative

   A big and hard-to-bridge difference between people, groups or ideas.

   Grammar: Usually followed by between: a chasm between rich and poor.

   Patterns

   • a chasm between A and B
   • bridge the chasm

   A chasm opened between the two brothers after the argument.

   There is a wide chasm between what voters want and what leaders offer.

   Years of mistrust created a chasm that the talks could not close.

Word forms

Common combinations

bridge the chasm

The new teacher tried to bridge the chasm between the students and the school.

yawning chasm

A yawning chasm lay beneath the narrow ledge.

deep chasm

A deep chasm separated the two political camps.

cross a chasm

The climbers crossed the chasm on a fragile ladder.

widening chasm

The widening chasm between city and countryside worried the minister.

Synonyms and how they differ

gulf

Gulf is used mostly for large differences between groups, while chasm also works for a physical crack.

abyss

An abyss is bottomless and frightening, so it sounds more dramatic than chasm.

gorge

A gorge is a steep valley, usually with a river, while a chasm is a narrow crack.

rift

A rift is a break in a relationship or the ground, but it suggests a smaller split than a chasm.

Opposites

Word family

chasmal adjective

of or like a chasm (rare)

chasmic adjective

deep and gaping like a chasm (rare)

Commonly confused: chasm or spasm?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “chasm”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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