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Definition of bated

bated

/ˈbeɪ.tɪd/
bat · ed
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bated Lexical Profile

bated Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Held back, restrained, or lessened in intensity due to suspense, anxiety, or awe (almost exclusively used in the phrase "with bated breath").

Example

"The audience waited with bated breath as the judges prepared to announce the winner of the competition."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for bated

Word Nuance & Usage

Today, "bated" is almost exclusively used as a fossil word in the fixed idiom "with bated breath." It is frequently confused with its homophone "baited" (as in a baited fishhook), making "with baited breath" a common spelling error.

• Rhymes for bated

• Nearby Words

batboy
batch
batchmate
bated
bateleur
batfish
batflower

Word Origin & Etymology

Shortened from "abated," the past participle of "abate" (to lessen or restrain), which came from Old French abatre ("to beat down"). The phrase "with bated breath" was popularized by William Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice (1596).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bated. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bated
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