bully
1 Americannoun
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a blustering, mean, or predatory person who, from a perceived position of relative power, intimidates, abuses, harasses, or coerces people, especially those considered unlikely to defend themselves.
playground bullies targeting children with disabilities;
a workplace bully who cuts me off when I speak.
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Archaic. a man hired to do violence.
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Obsolete. a pimp; procurer.
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Obsolete. a good friend; good fellow.
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Obsolete. a sweetheart; darling.
verb (used with object)
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to intimidate, abuse, or harass, especially habitually.
The boy next door constantly bullies the younger children in the neighborhood.
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to coerce or compel by harassment or intimidation.
The salesman bullied me into upgrading the car's paint protection and rust-proofing.
verb (used without object)
adjective
interjection
adjective
noun
noun
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Soccer. a desperate, freewheeling scramble for the ball by a number of players, usually in the goal area.
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Field Hockey. a method of putting the ball into play in which two opponents, facing each other, tap their sticks on the ground near the ball and then make contact with each other's sticks over the ball three times, after which each tries to gain possession of the ball.
noun
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a person who hurts, persecutes, or intimidates weaker people
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archaic a hired ruffian
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obsolete a procurer; pimp
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obsolete a fine fellow or friend
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obsolete a sweetheart; darling
verb
adjective
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dashing; jolly
my bully boy
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informal very good; fine
interjection
noun
Usage
What does bully mean? A bully is a person who harasses, abuses, intimidates, or coerces people, especially those with less power than they have or those considered weaker or vulnerable in some way. The word often implies that such behavior is repeated or habitual. Bully can also be a verb meaning to treat people in this way (to act as a bully toward them), as in The man who used to bully his classmates in school is now teaching children how not to bully others. Someone who is treated in this way is said to be bullied. The act of treating people in this way is called bullying. Bullies are primarily associated with school settings involving kids, but adults can be considered bullies as well. The most familiar form of a bully depicted in popular culture is the neighborhood or schoolyard bully, usually a physically strong or large child or teenager who uses their size to bully smaller, younger, or more timid kids. Famous fictional bullies that fit this profile include Biff Tannen from Back to the Future and Nelson Muntz from The Simpsons. However, the understanding of what constitutes bullying has evolved and broadened to encompass behavior that involves not just physical but emotional abuse and manipulation. Many studies have shown that bullying has long-lasting emotional and psychological effects, and many organized efforts and campaigns are devoted to preventing bullying in schools and elsewhere. The word cyberbully is used as a noun and a verb in the context of bullying that happens online. Bully can also be used a bit more generally to mean to force or coerce someone into doing something, as in The trainer bullied me into signing up for an expensive gym membership. An entirely different (and much less common) use of bully is as an adjective to describe something as great or excellent, as in What a bully day! It’s also used as an interjection meaning “Great!” or “Well done!” as in Bully for you: you got all A’s on your report card! These uses of the word are now typically considered old-fashioned. Example: Our school has a zero tolerance policy for bullying—bullies are immediately suspended.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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bullysimple
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bulliessimple
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have bulliedperfect
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has bulliedperfect
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am bullyingprogressive
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are bullyingprogressive
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is bullyingprogressive
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have been bullyingperfect progressive
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has been bullyingperfect progressive
Past
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bulliedsimple
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had bulliedperfect
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was bullyingprogressive
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were bullyingprogressive
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had been bullyingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of bully1
First recorded in 1530–40; from Middle Dutch boele “lover”
Origin of bully2
First recorded in 1880–85; bull(dog) ( def. ) + -y 1 ( def. )
Origin of bully3
First recorded in 1750–55; from French bouilli, short for boeuf bouilli “boiled meat”; see origin at boil 1, beef
Origin of bully4
First recorded in 1860–65; of obscure origin
Explanation
You might still have terrifying dreams about the bully who harassed you on the playground in second grade. A bully is someone who intimidates people, usually those who are weaker or smaller. The classic example of a bully is a mean kid in a schoolyard who hassles or beats up younger students. While a child or a teenager can be a bully, so is anyone who uses power or strength to scare or harm other people. The word bully has gone through a mysterious evolution, from the 1530s when it meant "sweetheart," through the 17th century's meanings of "fine fellow," then "blusterer," and finally "harasser of the weak."
Vocabulary lists containing bully
Common Five-letter Words for Wordle, List 1
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Michelle Obama's Speech at the 2016 DNC
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History is made in PA: Clinton's DNC Acceptance Speech
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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.
See Examples For:
“Starlink may bully its way into mobility, but it would take years to acquire and clear the right spectrum,” Wolfe’s Peter Supino wrote in a note to clients titled “Starlink Shmarlink!”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
She demonstrated her leadership during Thursday’s practice as well as some bully ball inside.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2026
As others have observed, this is like a bully blocking a door and daring you to push him aside.
From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2026
The George Steinbrenner Yankees pretty much invented it—the bully club from the bully town.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026
It’s weird having a bully who’s a number of inches shorter than you.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
Many are borrowed from other thinkers—Stephen Covey on time management, Bob Sutton on shutting down bullies, Amy Edmondson on psychological safety—but all are practical.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
A friend of the 15-year-old suspect, who spoke to the BBC on condition of anonymity, described the boy as uptight, who got into fights with his bullies because he refused to let insults pass.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
Unified could have — or should have — done more to protect her from campus bullies.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026
Over time, bullies became the exception and not the norm as prosocial traits became more likely to help genes get passed down.
From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2026
Someone who would braid your hair and protect you from bullies and lie to your parents if she had to, to keep you out of trouble.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
He was bullied as a child and coddled by his mother, but never received the unconditional love he craved.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Aurelien Tchouameni: Has played a key part in France's run to the semi-final but this was a game to forget as Les Bleus were bullied by Spain in midfield.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
"It is a stain on our history. Mothers, many young, vulnerable and without support were coerced, bullied or misled into feeling that they had no choice but to have their children taken away from them."
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
“Instead of actually listening to us and providing evidence of studies or environmental impact statements, we just get called names and bullied and defamed on national television.”
From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026
He was being shunned and bullied, even turned away by his family, which was something that could happen in a small, highly religious community.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
Later, he said the bullying he experienced there might have caused his “behavior difficulties.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
The woman has accused the Tates of bullying her and other accusers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
It has dealt with a number of topics that many teenage and young adult viewers will be familiar with - such as sexual identity, mental health and bullying.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
“The era of bullying and extortion is over,” wrote Mohammad Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliamentary speaker.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
He wasn’t going to trade in the playoffs for a lesson about bullying.
From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
