bated; bating
1
: to reduce the force or intensity of : restrain
waited with bated breath
2
: to take away : deduct
That grave and orderly senior was not going to bate a jot of his dignity …—
George Eliot
George Eliot3
archaic
: to lower especially in amount or estimation
And I shall have to bate my price …—A. E. Housman
A. E. Housman4
archaic
: blunt
And now I have bated your curiosity …—J. F. Cooper
J. F. CooperExamples of bate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Billboard Japan, Billboard, 7 Aug. 2024
During that fleeting wait, bated breath and a thumping heartbeat are symptoms of a process that happens in the brain.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2024
These are the last big nominations actors can score prior to the Big O, so breath is bated and agents are standing by to comfort.
—Vulture, 10 Jan. 2024
Others will have a day off work and maybe do something meaningful to honor Black people—but our breath is not bated.
—Time, 19 June 2023
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
Every time her vocals seamlessly shifted from a keen voice, sharp as a blade, to a beautiful singing voice, the audience broke out in goose bumps, breath bated.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 7 Aug. 2024
During that fleeting wait, bated breath and a thumping heartbeat are symptoms of a process that happens in the brain.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2024
These are the last big nominations actors can score prior to the Big O, so breath is bated and agents are standing by to comfort.
—Vulture, 10 Jan. 2024
Others will have a day off work and maybe do something meaningful to honor Black people—but our breath is not bated.
—Time, 19 June 2023
Dictionary Entries Near bate
Cite this Entry
“Bate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bate. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share