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Slang dictionary results for bash.

bash

American  

[bash] / bæʃ /

verb (used with object)

bashes, present (3rd person singular) bashed, past participle, past bashing present participle

1. to strike with a crushing or smashing blow.

2. Chiefly British, Canadian. to hurl harsh verbal abuse at.

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noun

bashes plural

1. a crushing blow.

2. Informal. a thoroughly enjoyable, lively party.

idioms

1. on the bash, working as a prostitute.

2. have a bash (at), to attempt; make an attempt.

bash British  

/ bæʃ /

verb

1. (tr) to strike violently or crushingly

2. (tr; often foll by in, down, etc) to smash, break, etc, with a crashing blow

   to bash a door down

3. to crash (into); collide (with)

   to bash into a lamppost

4. to dent or be dented

   this tin is bashed

   this cover won't bash easily

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noun

1. a heavy blow, as from a fist

2. a dent; indentation

3. a party

4. informal to make an attempt

Usage

What does bash mean? Bash means "to strike" something with great force. It's been adopted as slang for hurling insults or verbal abuse at someone. A bash is also an older slang term for "a wild party."

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• basher
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• bashes
  plural

Participles

• bashing
  present
• bashed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• bash
  simple
• bashes
  simple
• have bashed
  perfect
• has bashed
  perfect
• am bashing
  progressive
• are bashing
  progressive
• is bashing
  progressive
• have been bashing
  perfect progressive
• has been bashing
  perfect progressive

Past

• bashed
  simple
• had bashed
  perfect
• was bashing
  progressive
• were bashing
  progressive
• had been bashing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will bash
  simple
• will have bashed
  perfect
• will be bashing
  progressive
• will have been bashing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of bash

First recorded in 1635–45; perhaps of expressive origin

Explanation

To bash is to hit something hard. You might stand up suddenly on a sailboat and bash your head on the mast. Marching band drummers bash their drums with mallets, and terrible drivers bash their bumpers into trees. You can also figuratively bash another person by saying terribly critical things about her. When bash is a noun, it means either "a hard hit or blow," or "a loud, festive party:" "Welcome to my bash! Don't bash your head on the piñata."

Example Sentences

The event at Madison Square Garden shuttered one of Manhattan's busiest corridors and brought out Hollywood's A-list for what was likely the bash of the century.

From BBC • Jul. 4, 2026

The Wall Street Journal and parent Dow Jones weren’t yet in existence when the country turned 100 and had its centennial bash, in 1876.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026

Preparations for the 250th bash started in 2016 with the intention of making it on par with those earlier celebrations.

From Salon • Jun. 30, 2026

Donald Trump's ambassador to Belgium takes over a Brussels park Sunday for a high-profile bash to mark America's 250th birthday -- despite local pushback and official hurdles to his more spectacular plans.

From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026

I go out into the hall and almost bash headlong into one of the giant metal racks of trays.

From "It’s Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini

Related Words

• clobber
• punch
• slam
• slug
• smash
• whack