Meaning & use
bated
Last updated
Held back or restrained, almost exclusively used in the phrase "with bated breath" to describe intense anticipation or suspense.
See it in a sentence
The audience watched with bated breath as the tightrope walker took his first step.
She waited with bated breath for the exam results to be posted.
A note on using this word
"Bated" is often misspelled "baited" — but it actually comes from "abate," meaning to lessen or hold back, not from "bait."
Words with a similar meaning
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