basic

adjective

ba·sic | \ ˈbā-sik also -zik

Definition of basic

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : of, relating to, or forming the base or essence : fundamental basic truths

b : concerned with fundamental scientific principles : not applied basic research

2 : constituting or serving as the basis or starting point a basic set of tools

3a : of, relating to, containing, or having the character of a chemical base

b : having an alkaline reaction

4 : containing relatively little silica basic rocks

5 : relating to, made by, used in, or being a process of making steel done in a furnace lined with basic material and under basic slag

basic

noun (1)

Definition of basic (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : something that is basic : fundamental get back to basics

2 : basic training

BASIC

noun (2)

BA·SIC | \ ˈbā-sik

Definition of BASIC (Entry 3 of 3)

computers : a simplified high-level language for programming a computer The program was written in BASIC.

Other Words from basic Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about basic

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Examples of basic in a Sentence

Adjective

In this class, you will learn the basic principles of chemistry. At its most basic level, the book is about a father's relationship with his children. The basic difference between the two companies is their size. rights that are basic to all human beings basic reading, writing, and mathematics She lacks even the most basic skills necessary for the job. That's just the basic salary without overtime or tips. The motel is comfortable but pretty basic: you get the necessities all right, but no luxuries.

Noun (1)

He's teaching me the basics of Japanese cooking. He starts basic in two months.

Noun (2)

The program is written in BASIC.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

When something upsets this basic balance, gallstones — including the type most commonly seen in pregnancy, known as lipid or cholesterol-laden stones — can form. — Kate Wehr, Good Housekeeping, "Gallstones Are the Pregnancy Complication No One Warned Me About," 18 Apr. 2019 Other basic hygiene practices like washing your hands and covering sneezes with a tissue or elbow will also help limit the spread of the virus, but vaccination is the strongest and most effective form of protection. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "The Measles Signs in Kids Every Parent Needs to Know About," 3 Apr. 2019 Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Focals have the same basic idea as Vaunt but are actually set to ship to consumers fairly soon. — Dieter Bohn, The Verge, "North has acquired the patents and tech behind Intel’s Vaunt AR glasses," 17 Dec. 2018 An ambitious fiscal reform program, meanwhile, has meant waves of steep rises in the price of basic goods and services since 2015, compounding the struggle by most Egyptians to make ends meet as well as fueling popular discontent. — Hamza Hendawi, Fox News, "Amnesty calls Egypt an 'open-air prison' for critics," 18 Sep. 2018 Getting a good night's sleep and instituting screen-time caps may seem basic, but their benefit is real. — Mia Adorante, Town & Country, "5 Expert Tips for Younger Looking Eyes," 12 Mar. 2019 The four bedrooms and galley kitchen are fairly basic, but a private casita boasts on-point mountain views and the outdoor area includes a mature cactus garden, spa, and pool. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "Cheery midcentury modern in Palm Springs wants $659K," 10 Oct. 2018 The basic conceit was a collection of pop culture icons, led by Snow White, taking a tour through Hollywood history. — Emma Dibdin, Harper's BAZAAR, "Why the 2019 Oscars Don't Have a Host—And the Disaster That Ensued Last Time It Happened," 24 Feb. 2019 The company has hired about 300 salespeople in the country to increase brand awareness and, on a more basic level, change the way consumers and travel agents think about cruises. — Ezequiel Minaya, WSJ, "For Royal Caribbean, a Good Ground Game Strengthens Sea Legs in China," 19 Feb. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

So instead of buying all of them at once, stock up on the basics first. — Audrey Bruno, SELF, "11 Spices Everyone Should Have in Their Pantry," 23 Mar. 2019 Even the most seasoned oenophile can use a refresher on the basics. — Lettie Teague, WSJ, "How Do Sommeliers Do It? The Tricks to a Polished Pour," 14 Mar. 2019 This makes for a spellbinding story, but boning up on the basics of World War I ahead of time will greatly expand anyone’s appreciation of the film. — Chuck Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "What You Need To Know Before Watching "They Shall Not Grow Old"," 28 Dec. 2018 With the first line of colors, Pulp Riot focused on basics beyond the typical blonde, brunette, black, and red. — Devon Abelman, Allure, "How Instagram Sparked the Indie Hair-Color Brand Revolution," 27 June 2018 To improve matters, the engineers went back to basics. — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Awesome tiny gyroscope promising but not ready for prime time," 9 Nov. 2018 Dogs are motivated by the basics: food, activity, and companionship. — Alexandra Gekas, Woman's Day, "9 Things Your Dog Is Trying to Tell You, According to Experts," 25 Feb. 2019 Still, understanding some basics about the tax legislation can help investors evaluate new disclosures in the months and years ahead. — Theo Francis, WSJ, "WSJ Tax Guide 2019: What Investors Need to Know," 15 Feb. 2019 Shopping for bedding can be a chore: There's the sheets, comforter, duvet cover, pillows — and those are just the basics. — Nicole Saporita, Good Housekeeping, "The 5 Best Bed-in-a-Bag Sets You Can Buy," 24 Dec. 2018

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