bash

1 of 2

verb

bashed; bashing; bashes

transitive verb

1
: to strike violently : hit
also : to injure or damage by striking : smash
often used with in
2
: to attack physically or verbally
media bashing
celebrity bashing
basher noun

bash

2 of 2

noun

1
: a forceful blow
2
: a festive social gathering : party
3
chiefly British : try, attempt
have a bash at it
Phrases
bash away
British, informal
: to work hard at something
That is exactly what I tell myself as I bash away in the gym …Jay Rayner
bash on
British, informal
: to continue to work at something : carry on
… I'm a lot less sure about what I'm meant to be, or do, in a time of undeniable middle age. I guess I will just bash on as ever, and hope I don't appear too ridiculous as I do so.Becky Sheaves
bash out
British, informal
: to produce (something) quickly : bang out
Three years ago Piaggio disappointed enthusiasts by axing the retro Vespa's production. But Indian company LML continued to bash out copies that flew out of the dealers, especially in Italy …Harriet Ridley
bash up
chiefly British, informal
: to attack (someone) physically : to hit (someone) repeatedly
Umpires being lampooned or even bashed up [=beaten up] in schools, college and league cricket is hardly rare.Ayaz Memon

Examples of bash in a Sentence

Verb I bashed my arm against the door. Someone bashed him over the head with a chair. They tried to bash the door open. Noun We threw her a birthday bash. She gave me a bash on the head.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Verb
Striking workers drown out Democratic lawmaker with boos for bashing Trump. Fox News, 17 Oct. 2024 Flying on cocaine, he’s become a jabbering head case who proceeds to kill himself by bashing his face with a circular 35-pound workout weight. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 Oct. 2024
Noun
Klum had been teasing the costume on her Instagram and had started preparing for her big bash in the early hours of Thursday. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 The America’s Got Talent judge started throwing her annual spooky bash in 2000 and has continued the Halloween tradition nearly every year, except for a pause in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bash 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

Noun

noun derivative of bash entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1744, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bash was in 1744

Dictionary Entries Near bash

Cite this Entry

“Bash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bash. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

bash

verb
ˈbash
1
: to strike violently : beat
2
: to smash by a blow
3

More from Merriam-Webster on bash

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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