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.
Led by the formidable $56 Edge Drops serum, the pop supernova is basking in the early success of her line, which was decades in the making. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 26 Oct. 2026 While Usher was off basking in the afterglow of Confessions, maturing into a divorcé in the mid-2000s, the R&B world was already priming itself for a new-school successor. — Clover Hope, Pitchfork, 25 Oct. 2026 Once cast by some observers as the villain to Clark’s heroine, Reese has fought her way to the front of the pack and is now hoping to bask in the game’s brightest spotlight alone. — Don Riddell, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026 The San Francisco 49ers were still basking in the glow of an exhilarating road win against division rival Seattle that extended their perfect start to the season when Christian McCaffrey offered a word of caution. — CBS News, 15 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

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