Dash — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈdash/

Meaning & Definition of Dash

Dash (verb)

  1. to move with sudden speed
  2. smash
  3. to break by striking or knocking

Dash (noun)

  1. a punctuation mark — that is used especially to indicate a break in the thought or structure of a sentence
  2. a stroke of a pen
  3. a small usually distinctive addition

Dash (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. active strength of body or mind

    "the cavalry officer's dash and enthusiasm inspired his men to follow him into battle"

    similar: beans, bounce, brio, drive, dynamism, energy, esprit, gas, get-up-and-go, ginger, go, gusto, hardihood, juice, life, moxie, oomph, pep, punch, sap, snap, starch, verve, vigor, vim, vinegar, vitality, zing, zip
    related: animal spirits, animation, briskness, jauntiness, liveliness, snappiness, spirit, spiritedness, sprightliness, spunk, spunkiness, vibrance, vibrancy, vivaciousness, vivacity, ardor, élan, fervor, fire, passion, zeal, main, metal, mettle, might, muscle, potency, power, puissance, stamina, strength, brawniness, fitness, hardiness, huskiness, sturdiness, virility, health, healthiness, soundness, verdure, wellness
    opposite: lethargy, listlessness, sluggishness, torpidity
    near: indolence, laziness, debilitation, debility, delicacy, disablement, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, frailness, frailty, impotence, impotency, infirmity, powerlessness, puniness, slightness, softness, tenderness, weakness, enervation, exhaustion, inanition, prostration

Dash (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to go at a pace faster than a walk

    "one sprinter dashed to the finish line in record-breaking time"

    similar: gallop, jog, run, scamper, sprint, trip, trot
    related: bound, canter, leap, lope, shag, skip, spring, barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bolt, bomb (slang), bowl, breeze, bustle, buzz, cannonball, careen, course, foot (it), hare, hasten, hie, hoof (it), hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurry, hurtle, hustle, jet, leg (it), pelt, race, ram, rip, rocket, rush, rustle, shoot, speed, tear, whirl, whisk, zip, zoom, nip, patter, scoot, scurry, scuttle, step (along)
    near: amble, saunter, shamble, shuffle, stroll, crawl, creep, dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, lag, linger, loiter, poke, tarry, lumber, plod, trudge, hobble, limp

  2. to proceed or move quickly

    "we dashed about in a panic, trying to get everything organized before the guests were scheduled to arrive"

    similar: barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bolt, bomb (slang), bowl, breeze, bundle, bustle, buzz, cannonball, careen, career, chase, course, crack (on), drive, fly, hare, hasten, hie, highball, hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurry, hurtle, hustle, jet, jump, motor, nip, pelt, race, ram, rip, rocket, run, rush, rustle, scoot, scurry, scuttle, shoot, speed, step, tear, travel, trot, whirl, whisk, zip, zoom, beat it, get a move on, make tracks, shake a leg, step on it
    related: beetle, dart, flit, scamper, scud, scuffle, stampede, streak, whiz, gallop, jog, sprint, accelerate, quicken, step out, catch up, fast-forward, outpace, outrun, outstrip, overtake, arrow, beeline
    opposite: crawl, creep, poke
    near: dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, hang (around or out), lag, linger, loiter, poke, tarry, amble, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stroll, decelerate, slow (down or up)

  3. to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm

    "she dashed water in his face in an attempt to wake him up"

    similar: cast, catapult, chuck, fire, fling, heave, hurl, hurtle, launch, lob, loft, peg, pelt, pitch, sling, throw, toss, let fly
    related: bowl, dart, flip, gun, hook, pass, roll, shoot, buck, eject, impel, precipitate, project, propel, rifle, thrust

  4. to wet or soil by striking with something liquid or mushy

    "our clothes were dashed with the mud of passing cars"

    similar: bespatter, plash, spatter, splash, splatter
    related: drench, drown, impregnate, saturate, soak, sop, souse, steep, bathe, douse, wash, water, slop, slush, spray, sprinkle, squirt

  5. to cause (something liquid or mushy) to move along in sheets

    "a sudden jolt dashed the hot coffee onto the driver's lap"

    similar: slop, slosh, spatter, splash, swash
    related: dabble, lap, plash, wash, spray, sprinkle, spritz, squirt

  6. to make sad

    "she's always dashed by the failure of her matchmaking efforts"

    similar: bum (out), burden, deject, depress, get down, oppress, sadden, weigh down
    related: ail, distress, trouble, afflict, torment, torture, daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit, unnerve, agitate, bother, concern, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, disturb, exercise, freak (out), perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry
    opposite: brighten, buoy, cheer (up), gladden, lighten, rejoice
    near: animate, enliven, invigorate, assure, comfort, console, reassure, solace, soothe, excite, inspire, stimulate, elate, exhilarate, encourage, hearten, delight, gratify, please, boost, elevate, lift, uplift

Related Entry: Dash (off) (verb)

Dash (off) is a different word from Dash. The synonyms below are for dash (off), not for dash.

  1. as in cobble (together or up)

    similar: cobble (together or up), concoct, contrive, cook (up), devise, fabricate, hatch, invent, make up, manufacture, think (up), ad-lib, clap (together or up), extemporize, fake, improvise
    opposite: arrange, lay, prepare, ready, consider, contemplate, ponder, study, exercise, practice, rehearse

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Dash

The most common words with a similar meaning to Dash:

Slang: bomb
beans, bounce, brio, drive, dynamism, energy, esprit, gas, get-up-and-go, ginger, go, gusto, hardihood, juice, life, moxie, oomph, pep, punch, sap, snap, starch, verve, vigor, vim, vinegar, vitality, zing, zip, gallop, jog, run, scamper, sprint, trip, trot, barrel, belt, blast, blaze

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Dash

Words with the opposite meaning of Dash:

lethargy, listlessness, sluggishness, torpidity, crawl, creep, poke, brighten, buoy, cheer (up), gladden, lighten, rejoice

Related Words for Dash

animal spirits, animation, briskness, jauntiness, liveliness, snappiness, spirit, spiritedness, sprightliness, spunk, spunkiness, vibrance, vibrancy, vivaciousness, vivacity, ardor, élan, fervor, passion, zeal, main, metal, mettle, might, muscle, potency, power, puissance, stamina, strength

Near Antonyms of Dash

indolence, laziness, debilitation, debility, delicacy, disablement, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, frailness, frailty, impotence, impotency, infirmity, powerlessness, puniness, slightness, softness, tenderness, weakness, enervation, exhaustion, inanition, prostration, amble, saunter, shamble, shuffle, stroll, dally

Word Forms of Dash

Inflections: dashed, dashing, dashes

Origin & Etymology of Dash

Middle English dasshen, probably from Middle French dachier to impel forward

First known use: 14th centuryt

Words & Phrases Containing Dash

dash it (all), dash off, swung dash, cut a dash, mad dash, make a dash for, dashcam

Frequently Asked Questions about Dash

What does "Dash" mean?

"Dash" means to move with sudden speed. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to move with sudden speed. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Dash"?

Other words for "Dash" include beans, bounce, brio, drive, dynamism, energy, esprit and gas. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Dash" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Dash"?

There are 255 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Dash". Common alternatives include beans, bounce, brio, drive, dynamism, energy, esprit, gas, get-up-and-go and ginger.

What is the opposite of "Dash"?

Antonyms of "Dash" include lethargy, listlessness, sluggishness, torpidity, crawl, creep, poke and brighten. Near antonyms include indolence, laziness, debilitation and debility.

How do you use "Dash" in a sentence?

Examples of "Dash" in a sentence: "the cavalry officer's dash and enthusiasm inspired his men to follow him into battle"; "one sprinter dashed to the finish line in record-breaking time"; "we dashed about in a panic, trying to get everything organized before the guests were scheduled to arrive".

Is "Dash" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Dash" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Dash"?

"Dash" is pronounced /ˈdash/.

What is the origin of the word "Dash"?

"Dash" comes from Middle English dasshen, probably from Middle French dachier to impel forward. First known use: 14th centuryt.