bold
Americanadjective
-
bolder,
comparative
-
boldest
superlative
-
not hesitating or fearful in the face of actual or possible danger or rebuff; courageous and daring.
a bold hero.
-
not hesitating to break the rules of propriety; forward; impudent.
He apologized for being so bold as to speak to the emperor.
- Antonyms:
- modest
-
necessitating courage and daring; challenging.
a bold adventure.
-
beyond the usual limits of conventional thought or action; imaginative.
Einstein was a bold mathematician.
a difficult problem needing a bold answer.
-
striking or conspicuous to the eye; flashy; showy.
a bold pattern.
-
a bold promontory.
-
Nautical. deep enough to be navigable close to the shore.
bold waters.
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Printing. typeset in boldface.
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Obsolete. trusting; assured.
idioms
adjective
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courageous, confident, and fearless; ready to take risks
-
showing or requiring courage
a bold plan
-
immodest or impudent
she gave him a bold look
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standing out distinctly; conspicuous
a figure carved in bold relief
-
very steep
the bold face of the cliff
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imaginative in thought or expression
the novel's bold plot
-
printing set in bold face
noun
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of bold
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”
Explanation
Someone who's bold is daring and brave. You might show how bold you are by climbing onto the roof of your house, or by speaking up when you see someone being treated unfairly. When you act in a bold way, you're taking some kind of risk; you could be risking physical danger, embarrassment, or your reputation. Whatever bold actions you take, they are confident and fearless. The adjective bold can also be used to describe a particular typeface that is thick, dark, and confident. Bold type is usually used to emphasize something strongly in writing.
Vocabulary lists containing bold
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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:
Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy set a bold target on the conference call announcing third-quarter earnings.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026
According to the paper, the prime minister has ruled out a snap general election and hit back at claims that the Budget is not bold enough, saying the "economy will improve".
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
“I hope he takes those bold moves, because California needs it.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
Given its well-documented financial woes, the Metropolitan Opera might not seem a likely place to find multiple bold and costly new creative projects.
From Barron's ● Oct. 18, 2026
Not a man of them, sir, would be bold enough to try it on, for love or money.”
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
Economists note that bolder fiscal stimulus is needed to sustain China’s current reflation trajectory.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
We need both candidates to be bolder, more creative, more convincing, and to tell us things we haven’t heard before.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
The paper also says the prime minister wants "bolder devolution", including for parts of the country without elected mayors.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
On the train to Ukraine, Burnham met EU Council President Antonio Costa, telling him "the UK had to be bolder in terms of getting closer to the bloc", according to Downing Street.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
As a commander he knew the power of fright, but once they had gained the upper hand in the initial skirmish the mice lost their fear and became bolder.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
Moreover, even a consumer-goods manufacturer’s boldest creations can be mimicked by a retailer’s private label.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
In the boldest move yet globally to curb the rise of fast fashion, France is set to impose per-item fees on Shein, Temu and other platforms deemed by the legislation to engage in "ultra-fast fashion".
From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026
“Lanterns,” which unfolds across two timelines, is the boldest entry so far in James Gunn’s remade DC Universe.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026
Two of California’s boldest aerospace innovators joined forces to unveil an autonomous attack aircraft Monday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Pinch was the quickest, the boldest, the most irritating of the boys in all of the camps.
From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
