Synonyms

adieu

American

[uh-doo, uh-dyoo, a-dyœ] / əˈdu, əˈdyu, aˈdyœ /

interjection

goodbye; farewell.

noun

plural

adieus, adieux

the act of leaving or departing; farewell.

adieu British

/ əˈdjuː, adjø /

goodbye; farewell

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of adieu

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Middle French, equivalent to a (from Latin ad “to”) + dieu (from Latin deus “god”)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To bid adieu to a Muppet-themed section of Disney’s Hollywood Studios parks in Florida, some Kermit and Gonzo superfans organized a prom-inspired soiree at one of the area’s restaurants.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

Bardot had left instructions that her funeral be conducted without fanfare or ostentation - but the people of Saint-Tropez wanted to pay her a proper adieu on Wednesday.

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2026

I bid adieu to Greg and drove west.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2025

Thus, we bid adieu to the era when textbooks could be resold or passed down to siblings.

From Seattle Times • May 28, 2024

Muhammad and I have to hustle to catch up with her after we bid adieu to her friends.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023