verb
Uncommon
bash
bash
Bash (verb) means to hit something hard and roughly. Example: “He bashed his knee on the coffee table in the dark.”
verb
1
To hit something hard and roughly.
"He bashed his knee on the coffee table in the dark."
"Someone had bashed a dent into the side of the car."
"She bashed the stuck lid with a spoon until it popped open."
2
To criticise someone or something harshly and often unfairly.
"The newspaper column bashed the government's new policy."
"Some critics love to bash every new film that becomes popular."
"Commentators bashed the team for its poor performance last weekend."
noun
1
(informal) A lively party or celebration.
"They threw a huge bash for her fortieth birthday."
"Our neighbours are holding a big bash in the garden this Saturday."
"The leaving bash at the office went on until midnight."
How to use bash
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo hit something hard, to criticise something harshly, or (as a noun) a big party.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with Bash, the capitalised name of the Unix command-line shell — unrelated in modern usage even though spelled the same.
Common pairings
bash into
birthday bash
media bash
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Word forms
- Plural
- bashes
- Third person singular
- bashes
- Past tense
- bashed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ his knee on the coffee table in the dark.
Etymology
From Middle English, probably from a Scandinavian source related to Old Norse baska, "to strike" — the same root family as Swedish basa, "to whip."
Related words
Rhymes for bash
See all rhymes for bash →Frequently asked questions
What does “bash” mean?
The word “bash” means to hit something hard and roughly. In plain terms, to hit something hard, to criticise something harshly, or (as a noun) a big party.
How do you pronounce “bash”?
“Bash” is pronounced bash (/bæʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bash” in a sentence?
Here is “bash” used in a sentence: “He bashed his knee on the coffee table in the dark.”
What part of speech is “bash”?
Depending on how it is used, “bash” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “bash” come from?
The word “bash” comes from Middle English. From Middle English, probably from a Scandinavian source related to Old Norse baska, "to strike" — the same root family as Swedish basa, "to whip.".
Is “bash” a common word?
“Bash” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “bash” have?
“Bash” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to hit something hard and roughly.
What is the difference between "bash" and "hit"?
"Bash" implies a hard, rough, often clumsy blow, while "hit" is a neutral word that covers any strike, gentle or forceful. "Bash" also carries an informal, everyday tone rather than a technical or formal one.
Is "bash" used only for physical hitting?
No. "Bash" also means to criticise someone or something harshly and often unfairly, as in "critics bashed the new film." This figurative sense is just as common as the physical one, especially in journalism and casual speech.
What does "bash" mean when used as a noun, as in "birthday bash"?
As a noun, "bash" is an informal word for a lively party or celebration, such as a "birthday bash" or "leaving bash." This usage is casual and typically avoided in formal writing.
Is it correct to say "bash on someone" or "bash someone"?
"Bash someone" (no preposition) is the standard form for the criticism sense, as in "the report bashed the government." "Bash on" is not a standard construction for this meaning; "bash away at" is sometimes used instead for repeated physical striking.
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