Synonyms

bated

American

[bey-tid] / ˈbeɪ tɪd /

adjective

moderated or restrained.

Their solemn faces, their fidgeting, and the bated whispers in which they spoke all told of nerves strained to the breaking point.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of bate.

idioms

with bated breath, with breath drawn in or held because of anticipation or suspense.

We watched with bated breath as the runners approached the finish line.

Etymology

Origin of bated

First recorded in 1590–1600; bate ¹ ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective; bate ¹ ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In “Chasing Andy Warhol,” a slapdash work of street performance by Bated Breath Theater Company, the pop artist, who died in 1987, has repopulated select blocks of Manhattan’s East Village.

From New York Times • Apr. 7, 2022

And starting Friday, Bated Breath Theater Company will bring the theatrical walking tour production “Chasing Andy Warhol” to the streets of the East Village.

From New York Times • Mar. 25, 2022

Bated Breath specializes in theater outside a theater.

From Washington Post • Nov. 18, 2020

The site-specific spectacle, conceived by Mara Lieberman of Bated Breath Theatre Company, turns the life of the French artist into an impressionistic tale told in vignettes from storefronts and public spaces.

From Washington Post • Nov. 18, 2020

Bated once more, Desmond retired into his shell.

From Okewood of the Secret Service by Williams, Valentine

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023