bass
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for bass, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Low in pitch or frequency, referring to sound, voice, or instrument.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use bass
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
The musical sense is a respelling of base, influenced by Italian basso, "low." The fish name is unrelated, from Old English.
Full origin of bass →Frequently asked questions
What does “bass” mean?
The word “bass” means low in pitch or frequency, referring to sound, voice, or instrument. In plain terms, low musical pitch or a bass instrument — completely unrelated to the fish that shares the spelling.
How do you pronounce “bass”?
“Bass” is pronounced bays (/beɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “bass” in a sentence?
Here is “bass” used in a sentence: “He has a deep, bass voice perfect for radio.”
What part of speech is “bass”?
Depending on how it is used, “bass” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “bass” come from?
The word “bass” comes from Old English. The musical sense is a respelling of base, influenced by Italian basso, "low." The fish name is unrelated, from Old English.
Is “bass” a common word?
“Bass” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “bass” have?
“Bass” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: low in pitch or frequency, referring to sound, voice, or instrument.
What is the difference between "bass" and "treble"?
"Bass" refers to the lowest range of musical pitch or sound, while "treble" refers to the highest. On audio equipment, turning up the bass boosts the deep, low frequencies, whereas turning up the treble boosts the high ones.
What is the difference between the musical "bass" and the fish "bass"?
These are two different words that happen to share a spelling. The musical "bass," which rhymes with "base," means low in pitch, while the fish "bass," which rhymes with "gas," is a type of fish. Only the low-pitch meaning relates to sound and music.
What is the difference between a "bass guitar" and a "double bass"?
Both play in the low, bass range, but a bass guitar is a fretted, usually electric instrument held like a guitar, while a double bass is the large upright string instrument of the orchestra, played standing and often bowed or plucked. They share a pitch range but differ in size and playing style.
What is the difference between "bass" and "baritone"?
In singing, "bass" is the lowest male voice type, while "baritone" sits above it, between bass and tenor. A bass reaches deeper notes than a baritone.