basic

1 of 3

adjective

ba·​sic ˈbā-sik How to pronounce basic (audio)
 also  -zik
1
a
: 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
3
a
: 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
basicity noun

basic

2 of 3

noun (1)

1
: something that is basic : fundamental
get back to basics
2

BASIC

3 of 3

noun (2)

BA·​SIC ˈbā-sik How to pronounce BASIC (audio)
computers : a simplified high-level language for programming a computer
The program was written in BASIC.

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
While there are health risks associated with travel at higher elevations, these can be lessened by making basic preparations and taking time to slowly ascend. Brian Strickland, Discover Magazine, 9 Mar. 2024 For a lesson in how to master the basic technique, The Tapping Solution has a good step-by-step guide. Georgia Day, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2024 Those wanting to stream the show live can do so with a Peacock premium subscription, or stream new episodes the next day with a basic Peacock subscription. Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 8 Mar. 2024 At the end of the day, the economics professor points to a basic principle of capitalism: choice. Bryan West, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 There are three basic types: lightweight, standard and fast-set. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Focus on basic gear like a stroller, car seat and carrier. Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024 Each of these 4 pays a dividend, another basic requirement for the type of investing as illustrated by Graham and those who follow his work on the subject. John Navin, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Typically, such aid provides people with money for shelter and other basic needs. Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 27 Feb. 2024
Noun
Dancing with the Stars' Jenna Johnson, who worked with Gosling for two weeks to go over some dance basics for the film, praised his skills. Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024 For seasoned cooks and kitchen novices, cookbook author and nutritionist Robin Miller takes it back to basics with great, family-friendly recipes worth making over and over again. Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 And in Austin, the adults-only all-inclusive Lake Austin Spa Resort makes a point of teaching guests the basics of the game. Kinsey Gidicl, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 These are the basics Google will have to nail to convince burned Assistant users of Gemini's potential. Janhoi McGregor, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Outside some brief boycotts that have sprouted up over the years and the occasional Capitol Hill committee hearing in which lawmakers (most of whom don’t understand the basics of these platforms) implore them to do more, the world largely turns a blind eye and endlessly scroll. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 28 Feb. 2024 Most important, these chefs are seeing (and making) real progress, reshaping an industry that has historically struggled to provide the basics of work-life balance, respect in the workplace and a living wage. Julia Moskin, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Its offerings include classes on civil lawsuit basics, landlord and tenant issues, such as unlawful detainer lawsuits, and a basic course on common areas of law and how to take the next step in your case. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Spring is right around the corner, offering a great excuse to embark on a shopping excursion to outfit yourself with the hottest trends and necessary basics of the upcoming season. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'basic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

base entry 1 + -ic entry 1

Noun (2)

Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code

First Known Use

Adjective

1842, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (1)

1908, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of basic was in 1842

Dictionary Entries Near basic

Cite this Entry

“Basic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

basic

1 of 3 adjective
ba·​sic ˈbā-sik How to pronounce basic (audio)
-zik
1
: of, relating to, or forming the base or basis : fundamental
basic research
2
: of, relating to, containing, or having the character of a chemical base
basically
-si-k(ə-)lē
-zi-
adverb

basic

2 of 3 noun
: something basic : fundamental

BASIC

3 of 3 noun
BA·​SIC ˈbā-sik How to pronounce BASIC (audio)
-zik
: a simplified language for programming and interacting with a computer
Etymology

Noun

Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code

Medical Definition

basic

adjective
ba·​sic
ˈbā-sik also -zik
1
: of, relating to, or forming the base or essence
2
a
: of, relating to, containing, or having the character of a base
b
: having an alkaline reaction

More from Merriam-Webster on basic

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