bait

verb \ ˈbāt \

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

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Examples: bait in a Sentence

Definition of bait

baited; baiting; baits

transitive verb

1 a : to persecute or exasperate with unjust, malicious, or persistent attacks

bait minority groups

: to try to make angry with criticism or insults

baiting a politician during a debate

b : tease

2 a : to harass (a chained animal, such as a bear) with dogs usually for sport

b : to attack by biting and tearing

dogs baiting a fox

3 a : to furnish with bait (see ²bait)

bait a fishing line

bait a trap

b : entice, lure

baiting prospective buyers

4 : to give food and drink to (an animal) especially on the road

intransitive verb

archaic : to stop for food and rest when traveling

—

baiter

noun

See bait defined for English-language learners

See bait defined for kids

Examples of bait in a Sentence

baiting hooks with live worms
The interviewer kept baiting the politician by asking him whether he was lying.

Recent Examples of bait from the Web

Justin baited half a frozen squid on his line and quickly snagged something large, the newspaper reported.

— stephen hudak, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Brevard family enjoys tiger-shark steaks for July 4 after teen's catch: report," 6 July 2018
In the space of two weeks in June, U.S. President Donald Trump first baited his supposed friends into a trade war by slapping tariffs on steel and aluminum from the European Union, Canada and other nations.

— Time, "Trump Is Trying to Dismantle the World Order. Is NATO Next on His List?," 22 June 2018
Anyone who suggests that handing out pardons and cuddling up to celebrities can bait black voters into conservative thinking are grasping at the same straws as Donald Trump.

— michael harriot, The Root, "Black People Aren’t Stupid: The False Notion That Kanye and Kim Are Helping Trump Win Black Voters," 11 June 2018
Google employees who volunteer on diversity initiatives detailed a different version of events, saying they were baited and tormented by co-workers who oppose these efforts.

— jessica guynn, USA TODAY, "Google employee activism on diversity, Pentagon contract is shaking up Internet giant," 5 June 2018
Paul baited Teague into a pushing foul for a pair of add-to-the-pile free throws.

— dave campbell, BostonGlobe.com, "James Harden has Rockets close to next stage launch," 24 Apr. 2018
Green herons native to North and Central America pilfer bread from unsuspecting pedestrians and use the morsels to bait fish close to the shore.

— katherine j. wu, Smithsonian, "How Humans Created the Ultimate Superpests," 9 July 2018
At a picnic table, Wayne set up the book, and then with some pistachios, baited in a ground squirrel (which looks like a chipmunk with the stripes on its sides, but without stripes on its head).

— tom stienstra, SFChronicle.com, "At summer campsite, cute squirrels can go rogue," 9 July 2018
As of this month, baiting and feeding of deer is prohibited in 43 Wisconsin counties, according to the DNR.

— paul a. smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Baiting and feeding bans initiated due to CWD-positive deer farm in Marinette County," 6 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bait.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of bait

Middle English, from Old Norse beita; akin to Old English bǣtan to bait, bītan to bite — more at bite

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

bait Synonyms

Synonyms

hassle, haze, heckle, needle, ride, taunt, tease;

Related Words

deride, gibe (or jibe), jeer, mock, ridicule;

annoy, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, fret, frost, gall, get, gnaw (at), grate, gripe, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put out, rasp, rile, ruffle, spite, trouble, vex;

aggravate, exasperate, goad, test, try;

aggrieve, agitate, bedevil, beleaguer, discomfort, disturb, perturb;

badger, dog, hound;

browbeat, bully, hector;

harass, harry, persecute, plague, terrorize, torment, torture;

Phrases

make game of, pick on;

Synonym Discussion of bait

bait, badger, heckle, hector, chivy, hound mean to harass by efforts to break down. bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim.

- baited the chained dog

badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy.

- badgered her father for a car

heckle implies persistent annoying or belligerent interruptions of a speaker.

- drunks heckled the stand-up comic

hector carries an implication of bullying and domineering.

- football players hectored by their coach

chivy suggests persecution by teasing or nagging.

- chivied the new student mercilessly

hound implies unrelenting pursuit and harassing.

- hounded by creditors

bait

noun

Definition of bait

1 a : something (such as food) used in luring especially to a hook or trap

using worms for bait

b : a poisonous material placed where it will be eaten by harmful or objectionable animals

2 : lure, temptation

using bargains as bait for shoppers

See bait defined for English-language learners

Examples of bait in a Sentence

cheese used for bait in mousetraps
Wait until the fish takes the bait.
a wide selection of lures and baits

Recent Examples of bait from the Web

Media: Wibbitz Al Pacino: Getting Al Pacino to play Joe Paterno in the HBO movie about the embattled former Penn State football coach would seem to be Emmy bait of the highest order.

— cary darling, Houston Chronicle, "Here's who got snubbed at the Emmy nominations," 12 July 2018
With the Rangers mired in last place in the American League West, aging veterans with an expiring contract are perfect trade bait for contending teams.

— terry monahan, Pomerado News, "Trade in future for pitching veteran Cole Hamels?," 3 July 2018
Then there’s the question of whether shooting an animal becomes any less humane if there is bait involved in the hunt.

— james freeman, WSJ, "Bacon, Doughnuts Pose New Health Risks for Alaska’s Bears," 23 May 2018
Maybe Chris Archer finally will get away after being trade bait for years.

— paul sullivan, chicagotribune.com, "Early optimism: A division-by-division look at all the National and American league teams," 26 Mar. 2018
Going into the season, forwards James Neal, Jonathan Marchessault and David Perron all looked like potential trade bait in the final year of their contracts.

— USA TODAY, "Will Golden Knights be surprise trade deadline buyers?," 31 Jan. 2018
Evanston taxpayers should not be subject to a bait-and-switch that forces them to cover unanticipated demolition and landscaping costs.

— blair kamin, chicagotribune.com, "Evanston plan to demolish Harley Clarke mansion: Public vision or hidden agendas?," 13 July 2018
Several people took the bait, showing up for coffee in the early hours of the morning (Vennture will open at 5 a.m. daily) and beer when the time seemed right.

— kathy flanigan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Vennture Brew Co. brings coffee and beer to Washington Heights neighborhood," 11 July 2018
Then a 6-foot shark took the bait on the other end of her fishing line.

— matthew martinez, star-telegram, "Watch this woman battle a 6-foot shark on a Texas beach — and reel it in," 10 July 2018

Origin and Etymology of bait

Middle English, from Old Norse beit pasturage & beita food; akin to Old English bītan to bite

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

bait Synonyms

Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

chum, covert, creel, flense, pitfall, seine, skulk, spoor, trawl

BAIT Defined for English Language Learners

bait

verb

Definition of bait for English Language Learners

: to put a piece of food on (a hook) or in (a trap) in order to attract and catch fish or animals
: to try to make (someone) angry by using criticism or insults
: to use dogs to make (an animal, such as a bear or bull) angry or afraid

bait

noun

Definition of bait for English Language Learners

: something (such as a piece of food) that is used to attract fish or animals so they can be caught

BAIT Defined for Kids

bait

noun \ ˈbāt \

Definition of bait for Students

: something that is used to attract fish or animals so they can be caught

bait

verb

Definition of bait for Students

baited; baiting

1 : to put something (as food) on or in to attract and catch fish or animals

bait a trap

2 : to torment by mean or unjust attacks

They baited him by using a nickname he hated.

Learn More about bait

See words that rhyme with bait Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bait Spanish Central: Translation of bait Nglish: Translation of bait for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of bait for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bait

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bait

Definition of bait

baiter

Examples of bait in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of bait

bait Synonyms

Synonyms

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Phrases

Synonym Discussion of bait

bait

Definition of bait

Examples of bait in a Sentence

Recent Examples of bait from the Web

Origin and Etymology of bait

bait Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

BAIT Defined for English Language Learners

bait

Definition of bait for English Language Learners

bait

Definition of bait for English Language Learners

BAIT Defined for Kids

bait

Definition of bait for Students

bait

Definition of bait for Students

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