basic

adjective

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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 The average credit for a family with children was about $3,200 in 2017, and research suggests families mostly use the money to cover basic needs. — Ann Carrns, Star Tribune, "Tax help for people who miss out on a valuable credit," 16 Jan. 2021 Traditional safety nets like school feeding programs, city services, and food banks are struggling to meet basic needs. — Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, "This year, those that have should give," 29 Dec. 2020 Exercising with others can also satisfy some basic psychological needs. — Jacob Meyer, The Conversation, "Group exercise may be even better for you than solo workouts – here’s why," 29 Dec. 2020 Traditional safety nets like school feeding programs, city services, and food banks are struggling to meet basic needs. — Amy Dickinson, chicagotribune.com, "Ask Amy: This year, those that have — should give," 28 Dec. 2020 Initially their challenges focused on basic needs, like food. — Chase Difeliciantonio, SFChronicle.com, "How blind Google engineer handles challenge of working remotely," 28 Dec. 2020 Traditional safety nets like school feeding programs, city services, and food banks are struggling to meet basic needs. — Washington Post, "Ask Amy: This year, those that have — should give," 28 Dec. 2020 In a recent article, Zivot posited that basic math — which takes into account an 80% uptake of the vaccine that is 95% effective — could yield between 500,000 and 2 million American deaths in 2021. — Marco Della Cava, The Courier-Journal, "What will 2021 bring? Promising vaccines and 'the darkest days of our war on COVID-19'," 7 Dec. 2020 In a recent article, Zivot posited that basic math — which takes into account an 80% uptake of the vaccine that is 95% effective — could yield between 500,000 and 2 million American deaths in 2021. — Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, "What will 2021 bring? Promising vaccines and 'the darkest days of our war on COVID-19'," 6 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The selection of modern basics is made for a variety of bodies, bringing the relaxed yet polished aesthetic to so many more women. — Erin Parker, Glamour, "Universal Standard Jeans Are $65 Memorial Weekend Only," 22 May 2020 There are almost infinite approaches to keeping a sketchbook journal, but here are some basics. — Anne Nickoloff, cleveland, "Make a sketchbook journal: Coronavirus craft time," 29 May 2020 Today China wants to move beyond such basics, says John Riady, whose grandfather, Mochtar, founded Lippo (which derives a fifth of its sales from China). — The Economist, "Chinese diaspora Inc South-East Asian tycoons’ high-wire act," 28 May 2020 The interior is full of hard plastics and has a stark, minimalist design that suits the Jimny's back-to-basics nature and the fit and finish are good enough for a car in its price range. — Jens Meiners, Car and Driver, "2020 Suzuki Jimny Is an Adorable and Tiny Off-Road Box that We Can't Buy," 26 May 2020 Elizabeth Suzann was founded in 2013 by Liz Pape, a designer who was then selling her handmade basics on Etsy. — Jessica Testa, New York Times, "Saying Goodbye to Elizabeth Suzann," 21 May 2020 The company said Tuesday that same-store sales surged 10% at U.S. Walmart stores, fueled by demand from consumers stocking up on groceries and other basics. — CBS News, "Walmart sales soar amid pandemic stockpiling," 19 May 2020 In their place, spirituality is refilling the void: The core tenets of prayer, reflection, patience, and charity are again the focus of a back-to-basics Ramadan. — Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, "Not a hardship, but a blessing: Back-to-basics Ramadan," 19 May 2020 First, a quick recap on some COVID-19 basics: The CDC says that the virus mainly spreads through person-to-person contact, like an infected person coughing, sneezing, or talking within six feet of you. — Korin Miller, Health.com, "Is it Safe to Rent an Airbnb, Vrbo, or Vacation Home Right Now? Here's What Experts Say," 18 May 2020

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.