bash

1 of 3

verb

ˈbash 

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

see also:

bash away bash on bash out bash up

bash

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: a forceful blow

2

: a festive social gathering : party

3

chiefly British : try, attempt

have a bash at it

basher

3 of 3

noun (2)

bash·​er

ˈba-shər

plural -s

: one that bashes

especially, chiefly Australia : a criminal who beats and robs people

Synonyms of bash

Verb

• bump
• slam
• bang
• smash
• collide
• hit
• knock
• crash
• ram

Noun (1)

• blow
• slap
• hit
• thump
• punch
• swipe
• knock
• whack
• thud
• poke
• pound
• slam
• bang
• smack
• stroke
• spank
• lick
• beat

Examples of bash in a Sentence

Verb

I bashed my arm against the door.

Someone bashed him over the head with a chair.

They tried to bash the door open.

Noun (1)

We threw her a birthday bash.

She gave me a bash on the head.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Chris Dowling’s film is earnest in its attempt to extract specifically Christian life lessons from a familiar tale of manchildren forced into growing up, and goes pretty light on the Bible-bashing relative to others in its cinematic church. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 25 July 2026

Tiffany recently bashed Hong for joining a livestream with the controversial left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker. — Gaby Vinick, ABC News, 22 July 2026

Noun

Brazil finally won a first World Cup, inspired by 17-year-old Pele, a player who would do more than anyone else to promote the competition by his final, again victorious, bash at it 12 years later. — Michael Cox, New York Times, 23 July 2026

The actress also shared photos from inside the bash, which was attended by her Scream Queens costar Emma Roberts, her Last Showgirl costars Brenda Song and Kieran Shipka, actor Lukas Gage and model Alex Consani. — Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun (2)

origin unknown

Noun (1)

noun derivative of bash entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1744, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bash

• bash away
• bash on
• bash out
• bash up
• beat/bash someone's brains out/in
• have a bash

Rhymes for bash

• ash
• brash
• cache
• cash
• clash
• crash
• dash
• flash
• gash
• hash
• lash
• mash

Kids Definition

bash

verb

ˈbash

1

: to strike violently : beat

2

: to smash by a blow

3

: crash entry 1 sense 1a