Word
basing
Phoneticsbas·ing
US/ˈbeɪsɪŋ/
UK/bˈeɪsɪŋ/
Definition
v. to use something as the main idea or starting point for a new thing. You use this when you build a story, a plan, or an opinion on a specific fact.
v. the present participle of 'base'; refers to the act of using a particular fact, situation, or place as the foundation for something else. Often used in the passive voice followed by 'on' or 'upon'.
Examples
“I am basing my report on the latest sales figures.”
“The director is basing the movie's plot on a true story from the nineteenth century.”
“By basing their entire economic strategy on a single volatile commodity, the government left the nation vulnerable to sudden shifts in global market demand.”
Examples
simple
“I am basing my report on the latest sales figures.”
contextual
“The director is basing the movie's plot on a true story from the nineteenth century.”
complex
“By basing their entire economic strategy on a single volatile commodity, the government left the nation vulnerable to sudden shifts in global market demand.”
Usage
Typically followed by the preposition 'on' or 'upon'.
Pitfall
basing in a true story
basing on a true story
When 'base' means to use something as a foundation for an idea, it requires the preposition 'on', not 'in'.