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verb B1 Intermediate Uncommon

bathe

bayth

Bathe (verb) means to wash yourself, or someone else, using water. Example: “She bathed the baby gently in warm water.”

verb
1
To wash yourself, or someone else, using water.
"She bathed the baby gently in warm water."
2
To swim or immerse yourself in open water for pleasure.
"They bathed in the cool river after the long hike."
3
To cover or wash something in light or liquid.
"The valley was bathed in golden evening light."

How to use bathe

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo wash in water, swim for pleasure, or (figuratively) to be covered or surrounded by something like light.

Common pairings
bathe in the sea bathed in light bathe a wound

Word forms

bathed past tense, bathes plural, bathes singular

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Test yourself on “bathe” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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Can you complete this real example?

She _____ the baby gently in warm water.

Etymology

From Old English bathian, from the same ancient root as "bath."

Origin: Old English

Related words

Rhymes for bathe

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Frequently asked questions

What does “bathe” mean?

The word “bathe” means to wash yourself, or someone else, using water. In plain terms, to wash in water, swim for pleasure, or (figuratively) to be covered or surrounded by something like light.

How do you pronounce “bathe”?

“Bathe” is pronounced bayth (/beɪð/ in IPA).

How do you use “bathe” in a sentence?

Here is “bathe” used in a sentence: “She bathed the baby gently in warm water.”

What part of speech is “bathe”?

“Bathe” is a verb.

Where does the word “bathe” come from?

The word “bathe” comes from Old English. From Old English bathian, from the same ancient root as "bath.".

Is “bathe” a common word?

“Bathe” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “bathe” have?

“Bathe” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to wash yourself, or someone else, using water.

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