noun

bait

bayt

noun

Food or a lure used to attract fish or other animals so they can be caught.

"He threaded a worm onto the hook as bait."

Anything used to tempt or lure someone into doing something.

"The free trial was just bait to get people to sign up for the subscription."

verb

To deliberately provoke or taunt someone.

"He kept baiting his brother until a fight broke out."

How to Use Bait

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething used to lure a fish, an animal, or a person into a trap — or, as a verb, to deliberately provoke someone.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "bate," meaning to lessen or hold back (as in "bated breath").

Easily confused with

bate

Common pairings

fishing bait take the bait bait someone into

Word Forms

baiter comparative, baited past tense, baited past tense, baited past tense, baits plural, baits singular, baits singular, baits singular, baitest superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

He threaded a worm onto the hook as _____.

Etymology

From Old Norse beita ("food, bait"), related to the verb bite.

Rhymes for bait

wait gait lait Cait Fait trait await plait strait parfait portrait

See all rhymes for bait →