bash

1 of 2

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 2

noun

1

: a forceful blow

2

: a festive social gathering : party

3

chiefly British : try, attempt

have a bash at it

Synonyms of bash

Verb

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

Noun

• 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

We threw her a birthday bash.

She gave me a bash on the head.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The annual Dakar Rally may be best known for the sandstorming, badlands-bashing trucks, buggies and motorcycles that compete within its map boundaries, but the event has also inspired some radical on- and off-road support rigs and RVs. —New Atlas, 17 Dec. 2025

Still, after bashing Republicans for months on the urgency of averting the cost cliff, Democrats would also face their own pressures to swallow the policy changes in order to secure an extension of the subsidies — and relief for millions of Americans. —Mike Lillis, The Hill, 15 Dec. 2025

Noun

The celebratory bash on New Year’s Eve 1925 was an all-out splash, veritable who’s who of the era on the guest list; invitation Laughner sent invitations to his elite friends, including the Rockefellers, Carnegies, Mellons, Fleischmanns, and Pillsburys. —Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025

Lily Allen got into the holiday spirit on Friday night, hosting a festive bash at London’s Stringfellows strip club. —Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 20 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

Noun

noun derivative of bash entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1744, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bash

• 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