bask

bask — verb

1. to rest in warm light or heat because it feels pleasant and comfortable

1.verbintransitiveC1
Definition

to rest in warm light or heat because it feels pleasant and comfortable

Example

Old cats basked on the wall in the late afternoon sun.

literal warmth from the sun

After lunch, Nina basked beside the hotel pool with her book.

Common collocations
  • bask in the sun
  • bask by the pool
  • bask near the fire
  • bask on the beach
  • bask on the rocks
Synonyms
  • sunbathe

    usually suggests deliberately spending time in the sun, often at a beach or pool

  • lounge

    focuses on lying or sitting lazily, not on enjoying warmth

  • warm oneself

    a more neutral phrase that does not suggest pleasure as strongly

Antonyms
  • shiver

    suggests feeling cold instead of enjoying warmth

Grammar Patterns

bask in the sun

bask near a fire or heater

Usage Note

Usually used for real warmth or light, especially from the sun. Distinguish from sense 2, which is figurative and usually takes abstract nouns like praise, glory, or attention after in.

Common Mistakes

We basked the dog in the sun.
The dog basked in the sun.
bask is not normally transitive in this sense.

2. to feel deep pleasure because you are surrounded by praise, success, love, or an

2.verbintransitiveC2
Definition

to feel deep pleasure because you are surrounded by praise, success, love, or another enjoyable feeling

Example

After the interview, Carla basked in the host's warm praise.

bask in + praise

The young team basked in attention after winning the city final.

Common collocations
  • bask in praise
  • bask in glory
  • bask in attention
  • bask in admiration
  • bask in success
Synonyms
  • revel

    more expressive and often suggests open delight in something enjoyable

  • glow

    can suggest quiet pleasure that shows on the face or in someone's mood

  • delight in

    broader and less image-rich than bask

Grammar Patterns

bask in praise

bask in glory

bask in attention

Usage Note

Almost always followed by in + a pleasant abstract noun, such as praise, glory, success, admiration, or attention. Distinguish from sense 1, which describes actual warmth or light.

Common Mistakes

She basked from the compliments all evening.
She basked in the compliments all evening.
this sense normally takes in, not from.
Phrasal verbs

bask in

phrasal verb

To enjoy being in a pleasant situation or feeling.

Maya basked in the warm sunlight on the beach.

After winning the award, Diego basked in the applause.

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

For verb/1, bask suggests resting in warmth or light and clearly enjoying the feeling. Sunbathe is narrower: it usually means spending time in the sun on purpose, often at a beach or pool, and sometimes with the idea of getting browner skin. Lounge is broader and more casual; someone can lounge on a sofa with no heat involved at all. Warm oneself is the plainest choice and simply means getting less cold, without the pleasant, lazy image that bask often carries. A tourist can bask by a lake, sunbathe on the beach, lounge in a deck chair, or warm herself by a stove.

sunbathe ↗lounge ↗warm oneself

Common collocations

Phrases

  • bask in ...

Prepositions

Etymology

Old NorseMiddle EnglishEnglish

Bask came into English through Middle English from an Old Norse verb linked with bathing yourself. Over time, the idea shifted from simply being in a pleasant physical state to resting in welcome warmth, and then to the figurative sense of enjoying praise or glory.