bash

verb \ ˈbash \

|Updated on: 24 Jun 2018

Examples: bash in a Sentence

Definition of bash

bashed; bashing; bashes

transitive verb

1 : to strike violently : hit; also : to injure or damage by striking : smash —often used with in

2 : to attack physically or verbally

media bashing

celebrity bashing

intransitive verb

: crash

—

basher

noun

— bash away

British, informal

: to work hard at something

That is exactly what I tell myself as I bash away in the gym …
—Jay Rayner

— bash on

British, informal

: to continue to work at something : carry on

… I'm a lot less sure about what I'm meant to be, or do, in a time of undeniable middle age. I guess I will just bash on as ever, and hope I don't appear too ridiculous as I do so.
—Becky Sheaves

— bash out

British, informal

: to produce (something) quickly : bang out

Three years ago Piaggio disappointed enthusiasts by axing the retro Vespa's production. But Indian company LML continued to bash out copies that flew out of the dealers, especially in Italy …
—Harriet Ridley

— bash up

chiefly British, informal

: to attack (someone) physically : to hit (someone) repeatedly

Umpires being lampooned or even bashed up [=beaten up] in schools, college and league cricket is hardly rare.
—Ayaz Memon

See bash defined for English-language learners

See bash defined for kids

Examples of bash in a Sentence

I bashed my arm against the door.
Someone bashed him over the head with a chair.
They tried to bash the door open.

Recent Examples of bash from the Web

Then, take your phones and bash them with a hammer into little itsy bitsy pieces.

— jay willis, GQ, "Sean Hannity Encourages Mueller Witnesses to Do Even More Crimes Than They May Already Have Committed," 7 June 2018
Democrats relish the chance to bash President Trump.

— erin cox, baltimoresun.com, "6 takeaways from the debate among Democratic candidates for Maryland governor," 5 June 2018
Some commenters, while in awe of James' performance, bashed him for leaving the press conference early.

— christopher brito, CBS News, "NBA Finals 2018: LeBron James walks out of news conference after Game 1 loss, tells reporters: "Be better tomorrow"," 1 June 2018
The horrifying two-minute-long scene is shown with full sound and begins with Montgomery de la Cruz, one of the athletes, slamming Tyler’s head into a mirror before repeatedly bashing his head against a sink.

— washington post, BostonGlobe.com, "Netflix’s ‘13 Reasons Why’ is back, and this season may be even more disturbing," 22 May 2018
The horrifying two-minute-long scene is shown with full sound and begins with Montgomery de la Cruz, one of the athletes, slamming Tyler's head into a mirror before repeatedly bashing his head against a sink.

— allyson chiu, chicagotribune.com, "Netflix's '13 Reasons Why' is back with a graphic second season. It's more disturbing than the first, many say.," 22 May 2018
For months, Meghan's distant relatives have been bashing her and her decision to marry the royal.

— michelle manetti, Good Housekeeping, "Prince Charles' Speech About Harry at the Royal Wedding Reportedly Made Everyone Cry," 20 May 2018
LeBron-bashing, attention-seeking Baylesses, says Tatum is already better than a healthy Hayward.

— bill livingston, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Cavaliers 2018: On LeBron James' fadeaway, Boston Celtics' resurgence -- Bill Livingston," 12 May 2018
The meeting at the league officers in New York followed President Donald Trump repeatedly bashing the NFL and players on social media for protesting during the national anthem.

— aaron wilson, Houston Chronicle, "Texans owner Bob McNair urged players to stop kneeling, offered to work together," 25 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of bash

origin unknown

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1744

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

bash Synonyms

Synonyms

bang, bat, belt, bludgeon, bob, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clock, clout, crack, hammer, hit, knock, nail, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, zap;

scuff;

bunt, flick, stroke, tap;

bump, butt, jab, jostle, kick, knee, poke, prod, push, shove, stamp;

bowl (down or over), cream, deck, fell, floor, knock down, level;

rabbit-punch, sucker punch;

cane, club, cudgel, flail, flog, lash, sap, slash, sledge, sledgehammer, spear, stab, switch, thrash, whip;

bean, brain, conk, skull;

Phrases

hang one on;

bash

noun

Definition of bash

1 : a forceful blow

2 : a festive social gathering : party

3 chiefly British : try, attempt

have a bash at it

See bash defined for English-language learners

Examples of bash in a Sentence

We threw her a birthday bash.
She gave me a bash on the head.

Recent Examples of bash from the Web

Between debuting at the top of the Billboard 200 chart with his new album Ye -- his eighth straight No. 1 on the chart -- and an extravagant birthday bash thrown by Kim Kardashian, everything is coming up Yeezy.

— connor whittum, Billboard, "Kanye West Thanks Kim Kardashian for the 'Most Beautiful' Birthday Party," 12 June 2018
For the moment, however, Stachel joined the castmates and crew of The Band’s Visit in raising a glass, and of course boogying to a live brand at a post–Tonys bash that went late into the night.

— maria ward, Vogue, "The Band’s Visit Wins Big at the Tony Awards—And Celebrates Accordingly," 11 June 2018
Indy Pride’s biggest annual bash kicks off bright and early in White River State Park.

— justin jacobs, Indianapolis Star, "Dead & Company and Imagine Dragons shows among top things to do in Indianapolis this June," 30 May 2018
Rasmus said bash organizers are also wanting to provide a variety of entertainment options that would appeal to any District 204 student from preschool through high school.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "Indian Prairie D204 Foundation seeking bands for its Back to School Bash competition," 29 May 2018
But bash pressed him on it, saying that was exactly what Spygate was.

— stephen a. crockett jr., The Root, "Rudy Giuliani Being Booed During Yankees Game Was the Wrong Play: He’s Really a Spy for the Resistance," 29 May 2018
This evening, a Miami disco intends to celebrate the project's completion with a wall-to-wall, hot-pink bash for Christo, his wife, Jeanne-Claude, dozens of boat captains, island crew chiefs and all the workers in the effort.

— joe starita, miamiherald, "1983: Christo's army surrounds 10 islands," 29 May 2018
America’s Best Racing Preakness Party For the fifth year, the folks at Sagamore Racing will be raising money for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance through this pre-Preakness bash.

— chris kaltenbach, baltimoresun.com, "8 events to get you primed for Preakness 2018," 9 May 2018
An official Illinois Bicentennial birthday bash is planned for the monthly First Fridays event June 1 with Dog and Pony Show performing.

— staff report, Aurora Beacon-News, "Free concerts planned in downtown Aurora," 27 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of bash

noun derivative of ¹bash

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1805

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

bash Synonyms

Synonyms

bang, bat, beat, belt, blow, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, lash, lick, pelt, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger, stripe, stroke, swat, swipe, switch, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, wham, whop (also whap);

body blow, hand, kick, knee, left, one-two, rabbit punch, right, right-hander, roundhouse, shiver, sidewinder, sucker punch, swing, uppercut;

cruncher, kayo, knockdown, knockout, KO;

battering, beating, bludgeoning, clobbering, cudgeling (or cudgelling), drubbing, hammering, lambasting, licking, pasting, pounding, pummeling (also pummelling), thrashing;

flogging, walloping, whip, whipping;

BASH Defined for English Language Learners

bash

verb

Definition of bash for English Language Learners

: to cause or allow (something, such as part of your body) to hit something very hard or forcefully
: to hit (someone or something) very hard or forcefully
: to hurt or damage (something) by hitting or beating