bask

verb

basked; basking; basks

intransitive verb

1
: to lie or relax in a pleasant warmth or atmosphere
basking in the warmth of the sun
2
: to take pleasure or derive enjoyment
basked in the spotlight

transitive verb

obsolete : to warm by continued exposure to heat
basks at the fire his hairy strength …John Milton

Examples of bask in a Sentence

We sat basking in the sun. Tourists were basking on the beaches. He stood before the audience, basking in their applause.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The four spend their leisurely days lounging by the pool, drinking cocktails and basking in the sun: a postcard ready image of what a multi-ethnic French family can look like. Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 9 Dec. 2024 While celebrating and basking in the festivities, your love horoscope invites you to pause and reconsider your approach to romantic relationships. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024 Eager to seize both a potential policy opportunity and bask in a rare celebrity-adjacent spotlight, lawmakers in both parties have already begun offering up bills slashing various government agencies and directly addressing Mr. Musk on his social media platform. Catie Edmondson, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024 The holiday season often sees families gather around the TV set, whether to bask in the glow of a digital yule log or watch cheesy movies like Hot Frosty. K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 6 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bask 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, probably from Old Norse bathask, reflexive of batha to bathe; akin to Old English bæth bath

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of bask was circa 1616

Dictionary Entries Near bask

Cite this Entry

“Bask.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bask. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

bask

verb
: to lie or relax in a pleasant warmth or atmosphere
bask in the sun
basked in their success

More from Merriam-Webster on bask

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!