bathe
B1Neutral to slightly formal in British English; more common in American English for 'swim'.
Definition
Meaning
to wash or immerse oneself or something else in water or another liquid, typically for cleansing, pleasure, or therapeutic purposes.
To be covered or suffused with a liquid, light, or feeling; to wash or clean a wound.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Note the transitivity difference between British and American usage: BrE uses 'bathe' (verb, intransitive) for swimming, AmE uses 'take a bath' or just 'bathe' for washing; AmE uses 'bathe' for washing a wound or body part (transitive).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In BrE, 'bathe' (verb) commonly means 'to swim in the sea or a river/lake' (intransitive). In AmE, this sense is rare; 'bathe' usually means 'to take a bath' or 'to wash'. 'Bathe a wound' is common in both.
Connotations
In BrE, 'bathe' can carry a slightly old-fashioned or literary connotation for swimming. In AmE, it is more neutral for washing.
Frequency
More frequent in BrE for the 'swim' sense. In AmE, 'take a bath/shower' or 'swim' are more common for those actions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SVO (He bathed the child.)SV (We bathed in the lake.)SV+A (The room was bathed in sunlight.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bathe in glory”
- “bathe in the limelight”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; possibly metaphorical, e.g., 'The company was bathed in positive press.'
Academic
Used in medical contexts ('bathe the tissue') or literary analysis ('bathed in symbolism').
Everyday
Common for washing, swimming (BrE), or treating wounds.
Technical
Used in laboratory procedures ('bathe the sample in a solution').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We decided to bathe in the river before breakfast.
- The nurse will bathe the patient's wound.
American English
- I need to bathe the dog this weekend.
- She bathed in the warm glow of the fireplace.
adverb
British English
- Rarely used as an adverb.
American English
- Rarely used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The bathing area is marked by buoys.
- Bathing suits are required.
American English
- The bathing suit was left on the deck.
- We found a good bathing spot by the lake.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby loves to bathe in warm water.
- We bathe every day.
- After the hike, they bathed in the cold mountain stream.
- Remember to bathe the cut with antiseptic.
- The valley was bathed in the soft light of dawn.
- She bathed in the admiration of her colleagues.
- The artist's later works are bathed in a melancholy palette.
- He bathed the philosophical concept in contemporary relevance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'bathe' and 'bath' together: you take a BATH to BATHE.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMMERSING IN A LIQUID IS EXPERIENCING AN ABUNDANCE (e.g., bathed in light/sunlight/affection).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'bath' (noun) which is 'ванна'. 'Bathe' is the action 'купать(ся)'.
- The BrE 'bathe' (swim) is not 'плавать' in the sport sense, but more specifically 'купаться' in open water.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'bathe' as a noun (incorrect: *'I need a bathe.' Correct: 'I need a bath.').
- Confusing spelling with 'bath' (verb in BrE: 'to bath a baby' vs. 'to bathe a baby' - both possible with regional preference).
Practice
Quiz
In British English, which sentence most naturally uses 'bathe'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Bath' is primarily a noun (a container for water or the act of washing in it). 'Bathe' is a verb meaning to wash oneself, someone else, or a wound, or (in BrE) to swim.
It is neutral, though in American English for taking a bath, 'take a bath' or 'shower' is more common in everyday speech. 'Bathe a wound' is standard in all registers.
Yes, it is often used metaphorically with light, colour, or emotions (e.g., 'bathed in moonlight', 'bathed in nostalgia').
It is grammatically correct but uncommon. Usually, the reflexive pronoun is omitted (e.g., 'I bathe every morning') unless you need to emphasise washing your own body as an action distinct from washing someone else.