based

English

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Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /beɪst/
• Rhymes: -eɪst

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: based
• Homophone: baste

Etymology 1

base +‎ -ed

Adjective

based (comparative more based, superlative most based)

1. Founded on; having a basis; often used in combining forms.

   That was a soundly based argument.

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

based

1. simple past and past participle of base
   1. Being derived from (usually followed by on or upon).

      It's a new film based on a best-selling novel.

   2. Having a base.

      The ladder is based on the even sidewalk for stability.

   3. Having a base of operations.

      The company is based in New York.

Etymology 2

A reference to freebase cocaine, via basehead. Coined by American rapper from California (born 1989) Lil B to describe his lifestyle.

Adjective

based (comparative more based, superlative most based)

1. (slang, of a person) Not caring what others think about one's personality, style, or behavior; focused on maintaining individuality.

   Synonym: maverick

   • 2010 June 10, Lil B, Complex.com‎:

     Based means being yourself. Not being scared of what people think about you. Not being afraid to do what you wanna do. Being positive. […] Based is positive.

   • 2012 April 12, Duncan Cooper, “Based Scripture: The Full Transcript of Lil B’s Lecture at NYU”, in The Fader:

     You have to work as a human with empathy and love in your heart, staying positive and staying based and staying normal.

2. (Internet slang, sometimes humorous) Admirable; praiseworthy, especially if the thing that is considered "praiseworthy" is unpopular or controversial.

   Antonyms: cringe, unbased

   OP is based as hell

   1. (Internet slang, originally 4chan) Admirable for rejecting liberalism or socially progressive values.

      Synonym: unwoke

      based and redpilled

      My last account got banned for being too based.

      • 2019, Kira Stalker, "The Fracturing of the Alt Right: Conflicting Online Discourses Of White Nationalist Communities", thesis submitted to George Mason University, page 139:

        Those who are against Trump are not based at all. On February 16th, The Donald users comment on a “based” post in r/DankMemes which uses a classic Squidward sleeping meme to criticize those who are upset by Chris Pratt going to “church” (one which was purportedly anti-LGBT) but “ok” with sex predators in Hollywood:

      • 2019, anonymous, quoted in Cathrine Thorleifsson, "From cyberfascism to terrorism: On 4chan/pol/ culture and the transnational production of memetic violence", Nations and Nationalism, Volume 28, Issue 1, page 293:

        His meme-themed shooting greatly represents the spirit of the aussie people, in the sense of shitposting until their last moment, based and redpilled he is.

      • 2020, David Rubin, Don't Burn This Book: Thinking for Yourself in an Age of Unreason, unnumbered page:

        Then, in the same month, noted feminist Christina Hoff Sommers was branded “white supremacy-adjacent” by feminist Roxane Gay. Her reasoning? That our beloved “Based Mom” once appeared at an event with Milo Yiannopoulos and didn't disavow him enough.

Usage notes

• The term is formerly associated primarily with the alt right, but is currently used colloquially by non-alt right individuals, mostly without any political implications, although it might have political implications for certain individuals.

Translations

Interjection

based

1. (Internet slang, sometimes humorous) Indicating emphatic approval of a statement or opinion, often a controversial or unpopular one.

   —There is no ethical consumption under capitalism. —Based.

Anagrams

• Abeds, adebs, beads, dBASE