bound to, be

Idioms

Be certain or destined to; also, be determined or resolved to. For example, We are bound to hear from them soon, or No matter what they say, she is bound to run for mayor. This usage is derived from the older sense of bound as “obliged.” [Mid-1500s]
see bound to.

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.

When it comes to picking the best S&P 500 index fund, the results are bound to be a photo finish.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Although the new personal allowance is yet to be revealed, it is bound to be higher than the modest £250 rise implemented last year - which took the figure to £14,750.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

Mass compounding was allowed only because of a drug shortage that was bound to be resolved—as it was last year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 14, 2026

But no matter which numbers are used, there’s bound to be debate, experts said.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 10, 2026

Some of these stories were bound to be true, and some were not; to discover the line between, I decided to walk.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

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