basked; basking; basks
Synonyms of bask

intransitive verb

1
: to lie or relax in a pleasant warmth or atmosphere
basking in the warmth of the sun
2
: to take pleasure or derive enjoyment
basked in the spotlight

transitive verb

obsolete : to warm by continued exposure to heat
basks at the fire his hairy strength …John Milton

Examples of bask in a Sentence

We sat basking in the sun. Tourists were basking on the beaches. He stood before the audience, basking in their applause.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The approach of the former was to pause and bask; the latter, to launch with his backup dancers into a complicated set of steps. Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2026 At the time, insiders also shared that Evans and Baptista were basking in their newfound parenthood. Lara Walsh, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026 There, all arms of the Walt Disney Company — the multiple studios, television, parks, streaming, gaming, music, and more — simultaneously bask in the glow of nostalgia and take the time to tease their future. Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026 While not reflective of Murphy’s teenage years, the atmosphere and specific sense memory of ’81 that the book basks in has long been imprinted on Murphy. Hunter Ingram, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bask

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, probably from Old Norse bathask, reflexive of batha to bathe; akin to Old English bæth bath

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of bask was circa 1616

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bask.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bask. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

: to lie or relax in a pleasant warmth or atmosphere
bask in the sun
basked in their success

More from Merriam-Webster on bask

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster