adieu
Americaninterjection
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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”)
Explanation
Adieu is a French word meaning "goodbye" that is commonly used in English, especially in the phrase "I bid you adieu!" Adieu is one of those borrowed foreign words we’ve tried to make our own. But why would someone say adieu instead of goodbye? Maybe they're trying to be funny in an overly formal way. Maybe they're trying to spice up their vocabulary. Or maybe they're quoting that song from The Sound of Music: "Adieu, adieu, to you and you and you-ooh!" Saying plain old "goodbye" can get boring, so next time try something like "adieu," "adios," "auf wiedersehen," or "sayonara."
Vocabulary lists containing adieu
The Best Starting Words for Wordle
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Much Ado About Nothing
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Twelfth Night
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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:
The polite adieu was apropos for a player some fans considered the show’s nicest ever.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026
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
Anna Delvey didn't mince words as she bid adieu to "Dancing With the Stars," after being eliminated from the show on Tuesday.
From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2024
On the stage, Mr. Shakespeare gave the cue in his hollow ghost's voice: "Adieu, adieu, adieu. Remember me."
From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood
It’s worth remembering that among the unwelcome adieus, there are new beginnings, too.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 30, 2023
The vanquished are bid gracious if wearied adieus by the populace, and the usurpers, usually known quantities, wary if peaceful welcomes.
From Slate ● Aug. 29, 2014
Spectral coos and exhibitionist adieus … Phlo Finister : Oakland, California.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 17, 2013
Still, such exhibitionist adieus only add to the burgeoning mystique of this former chorister and self-styled "low-key brainiac".
From The Guardian ● Jun. 17, 2013
Mr. Wickham’s adieus were much more affectionate than his wife’s.
From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
Unless something improbable should happen, these are our adieux.
From The New Yorker ● Jun. 25, 2018
Second, the depression that follows the adieux of any quality series whose characters and stories merge with and enhance our lives for eight or twelve weeks every year.
From Inc ● Jan. 4, 2013
Couve simply stood up, bowed slightly, and murmured his adieux.
From Time Magazine Archive
Then Mr. Hylan made his adieux to the City Hall.
From Time Magazine Archive
My Dear Mentor, Please make my adieux to your aunt, and exult within yourself, for ‘Lazy Laurence’ has gone to his grandpa, like the best of boys.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
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.
