bask
Americanverb (used without object)
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basks,
present (3rd person singular)
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basked,
past participle, past
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basking
present participle
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to lie in or be exposed to a pleasant warmth.
to bask in the sunshine.
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to enjoy a pleasant situation.
He basked in royal favor.
verb (used with object)
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basks,
present (3rd person singular)
-
basked,
past participle, past
-
basking
present participle
verb
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to lie in or be exposed to pleasant warmth, esp that of the sun
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to flourish or feel secure under some benevolent influence or favourable condition
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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basksimple
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baskssimple
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have baskedperfect
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has baskedperfect
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am baskingprogressive
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are baskingprogressive
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is baskingprogressive
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have been baskingperfect progressive
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has been baskingperfect progressive
Past
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baskedsimple
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had baskedperfect
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was baskingprogressive
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were baskingprogressive
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had been baskingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of bask
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old Norse bathask “to bathe oneself,” equivalent to bath- bath 1 + -ask reflexive suffix
Explanation
To bask in something is to take it in, receive its warmth, or bathe in its goodness. On the first warm day of the spring, you may bask in the sunshine. When you win the Pulitzer, you bask in your own glory. In Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” Jaques says: “...As I do live by food, I met a fool; Who laid him down and bask'd him in the sun,; And rail'd on Lady Fortune in good terms...” That was most likely the first time bask was used in the way that we most often use it now: to bask is to warm yourself, either literally or figuratively, in the glow of the sun, good fortune, happiness, or a job well done.
Vocabulary lists containing bask
The Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer
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And Then There Were None
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This Week in Pop Culture: December 1 - 7, 2018
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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.
See Examples For:
One big plus: Doing it gradually has allowed us to bask in our memories.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
There’s ample media coverage of older Americans who bask in apparent paradise somewhere far from home.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
He’s not a filmmaker given to false modesty, but how long can you bask in that kind of adoration?
From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026
Instead, he was content to bask in the attention at the podium, while keeping his ambitions to himself.
From Barron's ● May 6, 2026
In a small clearing, we pause and drop back our heads to bask in the sunlight.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
While Guy basks in professional success, Rosemary begins to wilt, enduring intense pain and flashbacks to a nightmare she had on the night of conception.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2025
Nearby, his signature Soliarc Chaise Lounge basks in the sun.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2025
Kali Uchis basks in pleasure on her fourth studio album, “Orquídeas.”
From New York Times ● Jan. 11, 2024
After the nerve-shredding 12-11 win by the Springboks - the side's famous nickname - those day-to-day issues can be put to one side for a while as the nation basks in the afterglow of victory.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2023
He smiles and basks in the cheers and attention lavished upon him.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
With a broad smile, he took in the scene and basked in the adulation of a crowd that viewed him as a hero.
From Slate ● May 20, 2026
The EFL Cup does not carry the same lustre as the Champions League or Premier League, but Guardiola did not care about that as he basked in his latest success.
From BBC ● Mar. 22, 2026
South Korean fans and media basked in the success of "KPop Demon Hunters" on Monday after the film clinched two Oscars and added to the country's growing pantheon of cultural hits.
From Barron's ● Mar. 16, 2026
If it all works out, Snead might just celebrate another Super Bowl win the same way he basked in the first one.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 6, 2026
He basked in this affection, and emptied the bowl almost before it reached the ground.
From "The Incredible Journey" by Sheila Burnford
Infantino had been basking in the afterglow of the largest ever World Cup involving 48 teams until his plans divided the sport.
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
And now, with championship aspirations entering his 13th season, and fifth in Los Angeles, Mack is basking in his role as the Chargers’ elder statesman.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026
Just as Ohio State was basking in this groundbreaking partnership, news arrived that fancypants Notre Dame was getting an even more lucrative deal with the financial services platform SoFi.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
This group includes familiar species such as the great white shark, basking shark, and mako shark.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 8, 2026
The snake wasn’t lying in the sand, basking in the sun, like usual.
From "Orphan Island" by Laurel Snyder
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
