Dashes — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈdash/

Meaning & Definition of Dashes

Dashes (verb)

  1. to move with sudden speed
  2. smash
  3. to break by striking or knocking
  4. to write (something) in a very quick and hurried way

Dashes (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
  4. a character used in printing to conserve space by representing part or all of a previously spelled-out word

Dashes (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: gallops, jogs, runs, scampers, sprints, trips, trots
    related: bounds, canters, leaps, lopes, shags, skips, springs, barrels, belts, blasts, blazes, blows, bolts, bombs (slang), bowls, breezes, bustles, buzzes, cannonballs, careens, courses, foots (it), hares, hastens, hies, hoofs (it), hotfoots (it), humps, hurls, hurries, hurtles, hustles, jets, legs (it), pelts, races, rams, rips, rockets, rushes, rustles, shoots, speeds, tears, whirls, whisks, zips, zooms, nips, patters, scoots, scurries, scuttles, steps (along)
    near: ambles, saunters, shambles, shuffles, strolls, crawls, creeps, dallies, dawdles, dillydallies, drags, lags, lingers, loiters, pokes, tarries, lumbers, plods, trudges, hobbles, limps

  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: barrels, belts, blasts, blazes, blows, bolts, bombs (slang), bowls, breezes, bundles, bustles, buzzes, cannonballs, careens, careers, chases, courses, cracks (on), drives, flies, hares, hastens, hies, highballs, hotfoots (it), humps, hurls, hurries, hurtles, hustles, jets, jumps, motors, nips, pelts, races, rams, rips, rockets, runs, rushes, rustles, scoots, scurries, scuttles, shoots, speeds, steps, tears, travels, trots, whirls, whisks, zips, zooms, beats it, gets a move on, makes tracks, shakes a leg, steps on it
    related: beetles, darts, flits, scampers, scuds, scuffles, stampedes, streaks, whizzes, gallops, jogs, sprints, accelerates, quickens, steps out, catches up, fast-forwards, outpaces, outruns, outstrips, overtakes, arrows, beelines
    opposite: crawls, creeps, pokes
    near: dallies, dawdles, dillydallies, drags, hangs (around or out), lags, lingers, loiters, pokes, tarries, ambles, lumbers, plods, saunters, shuffles, strolls, decelerates, slows (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: casts, catapults, chucks, fires, flings, heaves, hurls, hurtles, launches, lobs, lofts, pegs, pelts, pitches, slings, throws, tosses, lets fly
    related: bowls, darts, flips, guns, hooks, passes, rolls, shoots, bucks, ejects, impels, precipitates, projects, propels, rifles, thrusts

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

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

    similar: bespatters, plashes, spatters, splashes, splatters
    related: drenches, drowns, impregnates, saturates, soaks, sops, souses, steeps, bathes, douses, washes, waters, slops, slushes, sprays, sprinkles, squirts

  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: slops, sloshes, spatters, splashes, swashes
    related: dabbles, laps, plashes, washes, sprays, sprinkles, spritzes, squirts

  6. to make sad

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

    similar: bums (out), burdens, dejects, depresses, gets down, oppresses, saddens, weighs down
    related: ails, distresses, troubles, afflicts, torments, tortures, daunts, demoralizes, discourages, disheartens, dismays, dispirits, unnerves, agitates, bothers, concerns, discomforts, discomposes, disquiets, disturbs, exercises, freaks (out), perturbs, undoes, unhinges, unsettles, upsets, worries
    opposite: brightens, buoys, cheers (up), gladdens, lightens, rejoices
    near: animates, enlivens, invigorates, assures, comforts, consoles, reassures, solaces, soothes, excites, inspires, stimulates, elates, exhilarates, encourages, heartens, delights, gratifies, pleases, boosts, elevates, lifts, uplifts

Related Entry: Dash (noun)

Dash is a different word from Dashes. The synonyms below are for dash, not for dashes.

  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

Related Entry: Dash (verb)

Dash is a different word from Dashes. The synonyms below are for dash, not for dashes.

  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: Dashes (off) (verb)

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

  1. as in cobbles (together or up)

    similar: cobbles (together or up), concocts, contrives, cooks (up), devises, fabricates, hatches, invents, makes up, manufactures, thinks (up), ad-libs, claps (together or up), extemporizes, fakes, improvises
    opposite: arranges, lays, prepares, readies, considers, contemplates, ponders, studies, exercises, practices, rehearses

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Dashes

The most common words with a similar meaning to Dashes:

Slang: bombs
gallops, jogs, runs, scampers, sprints, trips, trots, barrels, belts, blasts, blazes, blows, bolts, bowls, breezes, bundles, bustles, buzzes, cannonballs, careens, careers, chases, courses, cracks (on), drives, flies, hares, hastens, hies, highballs, hotfoots (it), humps, hurls, hurries, hurtles, hustles, jets, jumps, motors, nips

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Dashes

Words with the opposite meaning of Dashes:

crawls, creeps, pokes, brightens, buoys, cheers (up), gladdens, lightens, rejoices

Related Words for Dashes

bounds, canters, leaps, lopes, shags, skips, springs, foots (it), hoofs (it), legs (it), patters, steps (along), beetles, darts, flits, scuds, scuffles, stampedes, streaks, whizzes, accelerates, quickens, steps out, catches up, fast-forwards, outpaces, outruns, outstrips, overtakes, arrows

Near Antonyms of Dashes

ambles, saunters, shambles, shuffles, strolls, dallies, dawdles, dillydallies, drags, lags, lingers, loiters, tarries, lumbers, plods, trudges, hobbles, limps, hangs (around or out), decelerates, slows (down or up), animates, enlivens, invigorates, assures, comforts, consoles, reassures, solaces, soothes

Word Forms of Dashes

Inflections: dashed, dashing, dashed off, dashing off, dashes off

Origin & Etymology of Dashes

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

First known use: 14th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Dashes

What does "Dashes" mean?

"Dashes" means to move with sudden speed. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to move with sudden speed. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Dashes"?

Other words for "Dashes" include gallops, jogs, runs, scampers, sprints, trips, trots and barrels. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Dashes" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Dashes"?

There are 187 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Dashes". Common alternatives include gallops, jogs, runs, scampers, sprints, trips, trots, barrels, belts and blasts.

What is the opposite of "Dashes"?

Antonyms of "Dashes" include crawls, creeps, pokes, brightens, buoys, cheers (up), gladdens and lightens. Near antonyms include ambles, saunters, shambles and shuffles.

How do you use "Dashes" in a sentence?

Examples of "Dashes" in a sentence: "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"; "she dashed water in his face in an attempt to wake him up".

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

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

How do you pronounce "Dashes"?

"Dashes" is pronounced /ˈdash/.

What is the origin of the word "Dashes"?

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