bathe

bathe — verb

1. to wash your whole body in bath water, or to wash another person that way

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to wash your whole body in bath water, or to wash another person that way

Example

Ella bathed the baby before putting him in clean pajamas.

bathe somebody

After the long walk, I bathed and went straight to bed.

bathe = take a bath

Common collocations
  • bathe the baby
  • bathe before bed
  • bathe the children
  • bathe after work
Synonyms
  • wash

    broader and can refer to the whole body or just one part

  • shower

    uses running water from above instead of bath water

  • soak

    suggests staying in water for a time, often to relax

Grammar Patterns

bathe

bathe somebody

Usage Note

Used for whole-body washing, especially babies, children, or people who need help. Distinguish from sense 2, which usually refers to cleaning one part of the body or a sore place.

Common Mistakes

I bathed my hands after dinner.
I washed my hands after dinner.
bathe in this sense is for the whole body or for giving someone a bath.

2. to put water or another liquid on an injured, sore, or dirty area, often to clea

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to put water or another liquid on an injured, sore, or dirty area, often to clean it or ease pain

Example

The nurse bathed Leo's burned arm with cool water.

bathe + body part + with + liquid

Rosa bathed the dog's paw after the walk home.

Common collocations
  • bathe a wound
  • bathe your eyes
  • bathe a cut
  • bathe with cool water
Synonyms
  • rinse

    focuses on washing something with flowing water

  • wash

    broader and more general, without the soothing or careful sense

  • sponge

    suggests gently cleaning with a wet cloth or sponge

Antonyms
  • dry

    removes moisture instead of applying it

Grammar Patterns

bathe something

bathe something with + liquid

Usage Note

The object is usually a wound, body part, or sore place, and the liquid often appears after with. Distinguish from sense 1, where the whole person is washed in bath water.

Common Mistakes

She bathed after soccer because her knee hurt.
She bathed her knee after soccer because it hurt.
this sense takes the injured part as the object.

3. to swim for pleasure in natural water such as the sea or a river

3.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to swim for pleasure in natural water such as the sea or a river

Example

In summer, local families bathe off the rocks before breakfast.

bathe in open water

Tourists bathed in the river beside the camp at noon.

bathe in + river

Common collocations
  • bathe in the sea
  • bathe in the river
  • go and bathe
  • bathe near the shore
Synonyms
  • swim

    the general everyday word and suitable for pools as well as natural water

  • dip

    suggests going into water briefly rather than swimming for a time

  • paddle

    often means standing or walking in shallow water rather than fully swimming

Grammar Patterns

bathe

bathe in + place

Usage Note

Usually refers to swimming in the sea, a river, or another outdoor place, not in a pool. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about washing the body.

Common Mistakes

We bathed in the pool after class.
We swam in the pool after class.
this sense is most natural for natural water such as the sea, a river, or a lake.

4. to spread gentle light over a place or person so that it looks warm or beautiful

4.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

to spread gentle light over a place or person so that it looks warm or beautiful

Example

Late sun bathed the kitchen walls in soft gold light.

bathe something in light

The valley was bathed in morning light after the storm.

passive: be bathed in light

Common collocations
  • bathe the room in light
  • bathed in sunlight
  • bathed in moonlight
  • bathed in a warm glow
Synonyms
  • flood

    suggests a larger, stronger amount covering the place

  • fill

    more neutral and less literary

  • illuminate

    focuses on making something bright enough to see clearly

Antonyms
  • darken

    makes a place less bright instead of lighting it

  • shadow

    casts darkness over part of something

Grammar Patterns

bathe something in light

be bathed in light

Usage Note

The subject is usually sunlight, moonlight, a lamp, or another light source. Distinguish from sense 2: here the thing covering something is light, not water or medicine.

Common Mistakes

The room was bathed with dark blue paint.
The room was bathed in soft blue light.
this sense is about light spreading over something, usually with in.

bathe — noun

Word family

  • bath
    nounA1
  • bathing
    nounB2
  • bather
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

For sense 1, bathe usually means washing the whole body in bath water, or washing a baby or another person in a tub. Wash is much broader: you can wash your hands, wash your face, or wash the car. Shower is different because the water comes from above and you do not usually sit in it. Soak often stresses staying in hot water for comfort or rest, and cleaning may not be the main point. After football, Jake showered quickly before dinner. Later, his mother bathed the baby in the sink, while Grandpa liked to soak in a hot bath before bed.

bathe ↗wash ↗shower ↗soak ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • bathe in

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

Bathe comes from Old English bæðian, a verb from the same Germanic family as bath. The early idea was putting the body in water for washing or soaking. Later English also developed figurative uses, such as light bathing a room or a landscape.