bask

verb

ˈbask 

basked; basking; basks

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

Synonyms of bask

• relax
• rest

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

After a summer spent outdoors basking in the sun, houseplants can struggle to adjust to life indoors. — Rachel Gillett, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026

The star took a break from basking in the sun and frolicking through the waves, lining up on the white sand in front of the ocean with her BFFs for a silly dance party. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 24 Aug. 2026

What went down Dickens shared a video of himself surprising the Nature Gurlz, a beloved group of women who meet up weekday mornings to bask in the great outdoors. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 20 Aug. 2026

The new owners can bask in the aura of the Lakers’ storied history, celebrity fans, and overall glitz. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026

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

Phrases Containing bask

• bask in the glory
• bask in the reflected glory

Rhymes for bask

• ask
• basque
• cask
• casque
• flask
• mask
• masque
• pasch
• task
• subtask
• unmask

Kids Definition

bask

verb

ˈbask 

: to lie or relax in a pleasant warmth or atmosphere

bask in the sun

basked in their success