SKIP TO CONTENT

goodbye

/ˌgʊdˈbaɪ/
/ˈgʊdbaɪ/
IPA guide

Other forms: goodbyes

Goodbye is a parting word, something you say to other people when you're leaving. You might say goodbye to all your favorite teachers on your last day of high school.

A goodbye means that someone's departing: you say goodbye to your parents when you go off to college, and you also say goodbye to guests when they leave after a visit. The original goodbye, dating from the 1570s, was godbwye, which was a contraction of the farewell phrase "God be with ye!"

Definitions of goodbye
  1. noun
    a farewell remark
    see moresee less
    type of:
    farewell, word of farewell
    an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting
Pronunciation
US
/ˌgʊdˈbaɪ/
UK
/ˈgʊdbaɪ/
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘goodbye'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of gold-punch.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family