bash

1 of 2

verb

bashed; bashing; bashes

transitive verb

1
: to strike violently : hit
also : to injure or damage by striking : smash
often used with in
2
: to attack physically or verbally
media bashing
celebrity bashing
basher noun

bash

2 of 2

noun

1
: a forceful blow
2
: a festive social gathering : party
3
chiefly British : try, attempt
have a bash at it
Phrases
bash away
British, informal
: to work hard at something
That is exactly what I tell myself as I bash away in the gym …Jay Rayner
bash on
British, informal
: to continue to work at something : carry on
… I'm a lot less sure about what I'm meant to be, or do, in a time of undeniable middle age. I guess I will just bash on as ever, and hope I don't appear too ridiculous as I do so.Becky Sheaves
bash out
British, informal
: to produce (something) quickly : bang out
Three years ago Piaggio disappointed enthusiasts by axing the retro Vespa's production. But Indian company LML continued to bash out copies that flew out of the dealers, especially in Italy …Harriet Ridley
bash up
chiefly British, informal
: to attack (someone) physically : to hit (someone) repeatedly
Umpires being lampooned or even bashed up [=beaten up] in schools, college and league cricket is hardly rare.Ayaz Memon

Examples of bash in a Sentence

Verb I bashed my arm against the door. Someone bashed him over the head with a chair. They tried to bash the door open. Noun We threw her a birthday bash. She gave me a bash on the head.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
American has fallen behind large rivals Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in the post-Covid luxury travel boom that has taken Seoul spa vacations and 40th birthday bashes abroad out of the chat and armed millions of consumers with high-end rewards credit cards. Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2025 Last week, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson bashed the show in a statement shared with multiple outlets. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
If the thought of hosting a monster bash feels overwhelming, keep it lowkey by inviting just a few friends over for a Halloween dinner, and ask everyone to bring a little something to share. Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025 Kaia Gerber looked straight out of the 1970s disco era at the 2017 Casamigos Halloween Party, the annual bash thrown by the model's father and Casamigos tequila co-founder, Rande Gerber. Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bash

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

Noun

noun derivative of bash entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1744, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bash was in 1744

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bash. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

bash

verb
ˈbash
1
: to strike violently : beat
2
: to smash by a blow
3

More from Merriam-Webster on bash

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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