bake

1 of 2

verb

ˈbāk 

baked; baking; bakes

transitive verb

1

: to cook by dry heat especially in an oven

bake a cake

bake bread

baked potatoes

baking [=roasting] a chicken

2

: to dry or harden by subjecting to heat

intransitive verb

1

: to prepare food by baking it

a cook who enjoys baking

2

: to become baked

a loaf of bread baking in the oven

3

: to be or become extremely hot

sidewalks baking in the sun

bake

2 of 2

noun

1

: the act or process of baking

2

: a social gathering at which a baked food is served

Examples of bake in a Sentence

Verb

She wrapped the fish in foil and baked it for 15 minutes.

How long has the cake been baking?

They baked the bricks in the sun.

The streets were baking in the afternoon heat.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Spread the ricotta over the crust, top with the vegetables and bake until the crust and toppings have browned, 5 to 8 minutes. —Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026

Fresh herb plants grace tables and cruisers munch on breads baked in mini clay pots. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026

Noun

This marvelous oven has an eight-in-one function with multiple cooking modes to slow cook, braise, bake, and make brown rice, white rice, pasta, and oats. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026

Spread the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and bake, stirring halfway through, until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. —Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English bacan; akin to Old High German bahhan to bake, Greek phōgein to roast

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing bake

• bake sale
• pre-bake
• wake-and-bake

Rhymes for bake

• ache
• ake
• brake
• break
• cake
• craik
• crake
• fake
• flake
• hake
• jake
• lake

Kids Definition

bake

1 of 2 verb

ˈbāk 

baked; baking

1

: to cook or become cooked by dry heat especially in an oven

2

: to dry or harden by heat

bake bricks

3

: to be or become very hot

a sidewalk baking in the sun

baker noun

bake

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act or process of baking

2

: a social gathering at which a baked food is served

especially : clambake