as in rudimentary
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject
you'll need a basic knowledge of computers to get any sort of office work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in essential
Related Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of basic
Dr. Phyllis Agran, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Scaling nanotechnology through biological principles The basic premise of this research is in molecular machines, which are mechanical components consisting of only a few dozen atoms.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
Annie Blackman, InStyle, 1 Apr. 2026
Made from a blend of polyester and cotton, this top is a versatile basic that can be dressed up or down for travel days, sightseeing excursions, and everything in between.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for basic
Adjective
Once kids are ready to roll, some basic bicycle safety steps can help keep them safe.
—Dr. Phyllis Agran, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Scaling nanotechnology through biological principles The basic premise of this research is in molecular machines, which are mechanical components consisting of only a few dozen atoms.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
This soft, 100 percent cotton option from Madewell is an essential basic that looks good with everything.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 1 Apr. 2026
Made from a blend of polyester and cotton, this top is a versatile basic that can be dressed up or down for travel days, sightseeing excursions, and everything in between.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for basic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for basic
Adjective
-
His pieces include solid wood chairs with a deliberately rudimentary, almost minimal design, integrating ornamental elements such as marquetry panels or tin bas-reliefs into their backs, legs or seats.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Several rudimentary suggestions for fake numbers follow.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Shoppers would bring their brand-agnostic reusable glass jars to refill with all the essentials.—
Kara McGrath,
Allure,
22 Apr. 2026
-
But with a deep storage drawer—only one—the top drawer is a false front to hide the plumbing fixtures, making any size bathroom a functional space to get ready or store essentials.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Jacobson followed his father to Concordia College, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1999.—
Mary Divine,
Twin Cities,
23 Apr. 2026
-
And scattering experiments showed that, at an elementary level, reality was described by individual quanta, possessing specific properties common to all members of their species.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Back in Blighty, the nearby city of Chichester is also a must-visit, with its Roman and Anglo-Saxon remnants, great shopping facilities, and its historic cathedral in the centre.—
Emma Clarke,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Chanhassen certainly doesn’t jump to mind as a must-visit city, even among Minnesotans.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That archive of prints is in the process of being broken up for sale, and a few hundred of those boxes, including this set of 36 prints plus a clutch of introductory material and captions, have made their way to Daniel/Oliver, a gallery in East Williamsburg.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
28 Apr. 2026
-
At Fudd’s introductory press conference with the Wings on April 16, she was asked to comment on her off-court connection with Bueckers by a local reporter.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But somewhere along the line, other policy changes are likely to ripple outward, such as the easing of federal drug testing requirements.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The City Council unanimously approved the latest revision of those rules Tuesday, after council members earlier this month pressed city staff to add helmet requirements for all e-bike and e-scooter riders under 18-years-old.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The two share mechanical underpinnings, including their powertrains and most fundamental off-road hardware.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
This breakthrough provides a practical toolkit for directly probing quantum electrodynamics and observing the fundamental, extreme interactions between light and the quantum vacuum.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Basic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/basic. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
