basic training

noun

Synonyms of basic trainingnext
: the initial period of training of a military recruit

Examples of basic training in a Sentence

Our son is in basic training.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In recognition, he was allowed to complete three weeks of basic training instead. — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 16 June 2026 After giving his all during basic training and becoming one of the top trainees in boot camp, his commanding officers assigned him to the kitchen because of his emotional state. — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026 The base was created in 1941 for basic training of soldiers for duty in WWII. — Arkansas Online, 25 May 2026 Maglione said basic training on how to assist blind travelers would have totally alleviated his situation. — Zach Wichter, USA Today, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for basic training

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of basic training was in 1914

Rhymes for basic training

See All Rhymes for basic training

Browse Nearby Words

basic steel
basic training
basic wage
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Basic training.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basic%20training. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

basic training

noun
: the first part of training for a military recruit

More from Merriam-Webster on basic training

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for basic training

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All