Bated
/ˈbeɪtɪd/adjective
Held back, restrained, reduced.
He waited with bated breath for the result of the competition.
Often appears as...
- bated breath
- bated anticipation
adjective
Held back, restrained, reduced.
He waited with bated breath for the result of the competition.
Often appears as...
- bated breath
- bated anticipation
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Intensity
Used to emphasize strong feelings while waiting for something.
She watched the announcement with bated breath, hoping for a win.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Literal
It's a figurative phrase that does not involve real breath holding.
Fans listened with bated breath as the singer hit the high note.
Pro Tip 3/3Historic Phrase
Originated in Shakespeare's era, retains a classic, literary tone.
The readers awaited the next book's release with bated breath.
Compare with
curbdiminishlessenmoderaterestrainslowsuppresstemper
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Video examples
The right brain vs. left...
everybody's waiting with bated breath to hear you um that talk was of course about your personal story surviving stroke at the time you were a neuroscientist and you became your own research subject um what happened at that talk what
Video examples
Black Holes, Blazars,...
I was so excited. It was one of the first times in life that I had compellingly connected my identity and my interests. So, I looked up at her and I waited with bated breath to hear what she was gonna say, and she said "Huh, okay.
Video examples
How a miniaturized...
Six months ago, I watched with bated breath
Video examples
The right brain vs. left...
everybody's waiting with bated breath to hear you um that talk was of course about your personal story surviving stroke at the time you were a neuroscientist and you became your own research subject um what happened at that talk what
Video examples
Black Holes, Blazars,...
I was so excited. It was one of the first times in life that I had compellingly connected my identity and my interests. So, I looked up at her and I waited with bated breath to hear what she was gonna say, and she said "Huh, okay.
Video examples
How a miniaturized...
Six months ago, I watched with bated breath
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Mel Giedroyc
English Entertainer
For me, Christmas was always about presents. As a child, we each had an allotted place in the sitting room for the ceremonial unwrapping and mine was perched beside the telly on a Moroccan pouffe. We would watch our mum with bated breath as she divided up the gifts.
Quote examples
Mel Giedroyc
English Entertainer
For me, Christmas was always about presents. As a child, we each had an allotted place in the sitting room for the ceremonial unwrapping and mine was perched beside the telly on a Moroccan pouffe. We would watch our mum with bated breath as she divided up the gifts.
Example 1 of 1
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