bold

[ bohld ]

adjective

, bold·er, bold·est.

1. not hesitating or fearful in the face of actual or possible danger or rebuff; courageous and daring:

   a bold hero.

   Synonyms: dauntless, valorous, intrepid, valiant, brave, adventurous, fearless

2. not hesitating to break the rules of propriety; forward; impudent:

   He apologized for being so bold as to speak to the emperor.

   Antonyms: modest

3. necessitating courage and daring; challenging:

   a bold adventure.

4. beyond the usual limits of conventional thought or action; imaginative:

   Einstein was a bold mathematician.

   a difficult problem needing a bold answer.

5. striking or conspicuous to the eye; flashy; showy:

   a bold pattern.

6. steep; abrupt:

   a bold promontory.

7. Nautical. deep enough to be navigable close to the shore:

   bold waters.

8. Printing. typeset in boldface.
9. Obsolete. trusting; assured.

bold

/ bəʊld /

adjective

1. courageous, confident, and fearless; ready to take risks
2. showing or requiring courage

   a bold plan

3. immodest or impudent

   she gave him a bold look

4. standing out distinctly; conspicuous

   a figure carved in bold relief

5. very steep

   the bold face of the cliff

6. imaginative in thought or expression

   the novel's bold plot

7. printing set in bold face

noun

1. See bold face
   printing short for bold face

Derived Forms

• ˈboldly, adverb
• ˈboldness, noun

Other Words From

• bold·ly adverb
• bold·ness noun
• o·ver·bold adjective
• su·per·bold adjective
• un·bold adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bold¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English bald, bold, Old English b(e)ald; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German bald, Dutch boud “bold,” Old Norse ballr “dire,” from unattested Germanic bálthaz; akin to Welsh balch “proud,” Irish balc “strong”

Word History and Origins

Origin of bold¹

Old English beald ; related to Old Norse ballr dangerous, terrible, baldinn defiant, Old High German bald bold

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be / make (so) bold, to presume or venture; dare:

   I made bold to offer my suggestion.

More idioms and phrases containing bold

In addition to the idiom beginning with bold , also see big and bold ; make bold .

Synonym Study

Bold, brazen, forward, presumptuous may refer to manners in a derogatory way. Bold suggests impudence, shamelessness, and immodesty: a bold stare. Brazen suggests the same, together with a defiant manner: a brazen liar. Forward implies making oneself unduly prominent or bringing oneself to notice with too much assurance. Presumptuous implies overconfidence, effrontery, taking too much for granted.

Example Sentences

We need bolder action by policymakers to encourage investors.

From TechCrunch

Searching for such cues may incite children to be bolder in using their eyes to explore what’s around them.

From Popular-Science

Meanwhile, countries such as Brazil, which have seen emissions climb despite promises to scale them back, would need bolder action to make up for lost time.

From Washington Post

Public parks have grown so important during the pandemic that planners are suggesting bold renovations.

From Axios

“Our nation is struggling, the virus is still not contained, and the American people are counting on Congress to meet this moment with bold, immediate action,” Neal said in a statement.

From Washington Post

The well, ghost or no ghost, is certainly a piece of history with a bold presence.

From The Daily Beast

Or bold stands that may not preserve our security today or tomorrow, but keep our principles safely intact?

From The Daily Beast

Then, under the bold headline “Rebooting Spider-Man,” Robinov describes a broad vision for the future of the franchise.

From The Daily Beast

The 2014 election was a wipeout, progressives say, because Democrats lacked a bold economic message to inspire voters.

From The Daily Beast

The declaration adopted by the meeting was a bold step, but it did not a revolution make.

From The Daily Beast

Then Paterno adroitly brought matters to a crisis in a bold peroration which changed the whole scene.

From Project Gutenberg

M was a Miser, and hoarded up gold; N was a Nobleman, gallant and bold.

From Project Gutenberg

If we had shot 'em without discrimination, the cowards would have got bold, seein' that they weren't safer in rear than in front.

From Project Gutenberg

She also played his Fourteenth Rhapsody with orchestral accompaniment in most bold and dashing style.

From Project Gutenberg

There are some bold hights dignified as mountains below Coblentz, but the finest of the scenery is above.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• clear
• colorful
• definite
• eye-catching
• flashy
• forceful
• lively
• loud
• spirited
• strong
• vivid