abase

UK: /əˈbeɪs/ US: /əˈbeɪs/ ,(ə bās′)

Inflections of 'abase' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

abases

v 3rd person singular

abasing

v pres p

abased

v past

abased

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

a•base /əˈbeɪs/   v. [~ + oneself] , a•based, a•bas•ing. 

1. to lower (oneself) in rank, dignity, or honor;
   humble:
   had to abase himself before his boss to keep his job.

a•base•ment, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

a•base  (ə bās′), v.t., a•based, a•bas•ing. 

1. to reduce or lower, as in rank, office, reputation, or estimation;
   humble;
   degrade.
2. [Archaic,] to lower;
   put or bring down:
   He abased his head.

• Vulgar Latin *bassiare, verb, verbal derivative of Late Latin bassus; see base²
• Anglo-French abesser, abaisser, Old French abaissier, equivalent. + a- a-⁵ + -baissier
• 1470–80; a-⁵ + base²; replacing late Middle English abassen, equivalent. to a-⁵ + bas base²; replacing Middle English abaissen, abe(i)sen

a•base′ment, n. 
a•bas′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. humiliate, dishonor, defame, belittle.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

abase / əˈbeɪs/ verb (transitive)

1. to humble or belittle (oneself, etc)
2. to lower or reduce, as in rank or estimation

Etymology: 15th Century: abessen, from Old French abaissier to make low. See base²

aˈbasement noun