1
a
: a receptacle made of interwoven material (such as osiers)
b
: any of various lightweight usually wood containers
c
: the quantity contained in a basket
2
: something that resembles a basket especially in shape or use
3
a
: a net open at the bottom and suspended from a metal ring that constitutes the goal in basketball
b
: a field goal in basketball
4
a
: an aggregate of values (as of selected currencies) the average of which serves as a monetary standard
b
: a selection of financial instruments (such as equities, futures, or options) the values of which reflect market fluctuations
5
: a ring around the lower end of a ski pole that keeps the pole from sinking too deep in snow
Examples of basket in a Sentence
They brought their lunch in a picnic basket.
His shot missed the basket completely.
Recent Examples on the Web
Against a basket of currencies, the dollar slid as low as 97.923 =USD on Monday, its lowest since March 2022.
—
Hannah Lang and Rae Wee, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
The basket put the Thunder ahead 55-22 with 6:23 remaining.
—Darnell Mayberry, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
So far in 2025, the dollar has slid more than 8 percent against a basket of major currencies—the worst start to a year in the ICE U.S. Dollar Index’s four-decade history.
—Carrie McCabe, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
His biggest basket of the night came on a one-handed tip-in to push the Heat’s lead to three with 1:03 left in the fourth quarter.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for basket
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Hannah Lang and Rae Wee, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
The basket put the Thunder ahead 55-22 with 6:23 remaining.
—Darnell Mayberry, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
So far in 2025, the dollar has slid more than 8 percent against a basket of major currencies—the worst start to a year in the ICE U.S. Dollar Index’s four-decade history.
—Carrie McCabe, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
His biggest basket of the night came on a one-handed tip-in to push the Heat’s lead to three with 1:03 left in the fourth quarter.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for basket
Cite this Entry
“Basket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basket. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
basket
noun
bas·ket
ˈbas-kət 
1
a
: a container made by weaving together materials (as reeds, straw, or strips of wood)
b
: the contents of a basket
2
: something that resembles a basket
3
a
: a net open at the bottom and hung from a metal ring that is the goal in basketball
b
: a score made in basketball by tossing the ball through the basket
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