Usage Contextslangsocial

Note: Tone can read polarizing in broad-audience copy.

Based

//beɪst// adj, intj, verb, slang

Definitions

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

    "That was a soundly based argument."

  2. 2
    Not caring what others think about one's personality, style, or behavior; focused on maintaining individuality. slang

    "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."

  3. 3
    Admirable; praiseworthy, especially if simultaneously unpopular or controversial. Internet, humorous, sometimes

    "I hate l'Académie Française, but their spelling reforms are kind of based."

  4. 4
    Admirable; praiseworthy, especially if simultaneously unpopular or controversial.; Admirable for rejecting political correctness or socially progressive values. Internet, humorous, sometimes

    "based and redpilled"

Adjective
  1. 1
    having a base of operations (often used as a combining form) wordnet
  2. 2
    having a base wordnet
Intj
  1. 1
    Indicating emphatic approval of a statement or opinion, often a controversial or unpopular one. Internet, humorous, sometimes

    "—There is no ethics in communism—Based."

Slang
  1. 1
    Confidently authentic, unconcerned with approval. slang, internet, 2010s-2020s

    "Unpopular take, but honestly based."

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

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

  2. 2
    simple past and past participle of base; Having a base.

    "The ladder is based on the even sidewalk for stability."

  3. 3
    simple past and past participle of base; Having a base of operations.

    "The company is based in New York."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From base + -ed.

Etymology 2

From base + -ed.

Etymology 3

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

Etymology 4

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

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