ashes: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, literary, religious, and everyday contexts.
Quick answer
What does “ashes” mean?
The powdery residue left after something has been completely burned, especially the remains of a human body after cremation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The powdery residue left after something has been completely burned, especially the remains of a human body after cremation.
Symbolically, the remains or vestiges of something that has been destroyed, ended, or lost; a state of ruin, defeat, or mourning.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use 'ashes' for cremated remains and figurative destruction.
Connotations
Identical connotations of finality, loss, and remembrance in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties, with similar distribution across contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “ashes” in a Sentence
VERB + ashes (scatter, bury, contain)ashes + of + NOUN (ashes of war, ashes of the fire)PREP + ashes (in ashes, into ashes, from ashes)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ashes” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The documents were ashed in the incinerator.
- The volcano ashed the entire region.
American English
- They ashed the waste in the facility.
- The wildfire ashed the hillside.
adverb
British English
- The fire burned ashily, leaving little behind.
- (Rare usage)
American English
- The wood crumbled ashily to the touch.
- (Rare usage)
adjective
British English
- The ashen-faced witness described the scene.
- An ash-grey sky loomed overhead.
American English
- Her face was ashen with fear.
- They drove through the ash-covered landscape.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly metaphorical: 'The company rose from the ashes of bankruptcy.'
Academic
Used in historical, archaeological, and literary contexts: 'analysing the ashes from the volcanic layer'.
Everyday
Common for discussing cremation, fireplaces, bonfires, or cigarettes: 'We scattered Grandma's ashes at sea.'
Technical
Specific in forensics, geology, and materials science: 'fly ash', 'volcanic ash analysis'.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ashes”
- Using 'ash' as a countable noun for human remains (incorrect: 'his ash'; correct: 'his ashes').
- Treating 'ashes' as singular (incorrect: 'The ashes is here.'; correct: 'The ashes are here.').
- Confusing 'ashes' with 'dust' (dust is dry dirt, not necessarily from burning).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a plural noun (e.g., 'The ashes are scattered'). The singular 'ash' refers to the substance in general.
No, it is standard and respectful to use the plural 'ashes' for human remains (e.g., 'his ashes'). Using the singular 'ash' is incorrect in this context.
It is an idiom meaning to recover successfully after a complete failure or destruction, much like the mythical phoenix bird.
Yes. 'Cinders' are small pieces of partly burned coal or wood that may still be glowing. 'Ashes' are the soft, grey, powdery residue left after something is completely burned out.
The powdery residue left after something has been completely burned, especially the remains of a human body after cremation.
Ashes is usually formal, literary, religious, and everyday contexts. in register.
Ashes: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæʃɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæʃɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “rise from the ashes”
- “ashes to ashes, dust to dust”
- “sackcloth and ashes”
- “lay in ashes”
- “turn to ashes in one's mouth”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the letters 'ASH' in the word. After a fire, only ASH is left, and you usually have more than one bit, so add 'ES' for plural 'ASHES'.
Conceptual Metaphor
ASHES ARE THE FINAL RESULT / ASHES ARE THE PAST / ASHES ARE DEFEAT (e.g., 'Their hopes were turned to ashes.')
Practice
Quiz
In the phrase 'ashes to ashes, dust to dust', what is the primary context?