# based

Pronunciation: say "BAYST" /beɪst/

## Verb

1. Derived or developed from something that serves as its source or foundation, usually followed by 'on' or 'upon'.
   - Simple: Made or developed using something else as the starting point, usually with 'on' or 'upon'.
   - _The screenplay was based on a forgotten diary from the war._
   - _His ruling was based upon a narrow reading of the statute._
3. Operating from a particular location that serves as one's center of activity.
   - Simple: Having your main place of work or activity in a certain location.
   - _The charity is based in Geneva but runs projects worldwide._
   - _He spent the decade based in Tokyo as a foreign correspondent._
6. Provided with or resting on a base of a particular kind.
   - Simple: Having a bottom part or support of a certain kind.
   - _Archaeologists found several flat-based clay pots that could stand upright on the ground without any support._
   - _On a rocking boat, a wide-based mug is much harder to knock over than a tall, narrow glass._

## Adjective

2. Founded on or having a particular basis, and frequently used as the final element in combining forms.
   - Simple: Built on a particular foundation or set of ideas, and often joined to another word as an ending.
   - _The reform is broadly based, drawing support from every region._
   - _Hospitals increasingly favor evidence-based treatment over tradition._
4. Admired for saying or doing what one thinks regardless of others' opinions, especially when the view is unpopular, controversial, or politically incorrect. *(slang)*
   - Simple: Admired for being yourself and saying what you think, even when other people do not like it.
   - _Calling out the bad decision in front of the whole board was a based move._
   - _Half the comments called her based for defending the unpopular ending, while the rest just kept arguing with her._
7. Unconcerned with others' opinions of one's personality, style, or behavior; committed to one's own individuality. *(slang)*
   - Simple: Not worried about what other people think of you, just being yourself no matter what.
   - _Even after his friends teased him about the neon sneakers, Marcus kept wearing them to school, because he's just based like that._
   - _He's so based that he wore his grandfather's old suit to the party without a second thought._

## Interjection

5. Used to express strong approval of a statement or opinion, often a controversial or unpopular one. *(slang)*
   - Simple: Said to strongly agree with something, especially an opinion many people disagree with.
   - _When Jake admitted in the group chat that he actually likes pineapple on pizza, Maria replied with one word: "Based."_
   - _She declared pineapple belonged on pizza, and the comments were a wall of "Based."_

## Origin

**Meanings 1–3, 6** — Formed from "base" combined with the suffix "-ed".
**Meanings 4–5, 7** — From earlier slang based, an insult for someone high on freebase cocaine, from basehead. The California rapper Lil B reclaimed it in the late 2000s as praise for being yourself and staying positive.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/based (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).