bored

American  

[bawrd] / bɔrd /

adjective

1. wearied by dullness or sameness (often followed by with, of, orby ).

   This activity will keep bored children entertained on those long summer days.

   She's bored with the color of her room and has decided to paint it.

   I never seem to get bored of this game.

---

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of bore.

Etymology

Origin of bored

First recorded in 1820–30; bore ¹ ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective; bore ¹ ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb

Explanation

When you are bored, nothing is engaging you. If you're on a long flight, you forgot your book, and there's no movie, you might become bored. The adjective bored comes from boredom, the state of being where nothing is interesting or exciting. If you only understand English, you'll probably get bored quickly listening to German talk radio. It's hard not to be bored by a six hour bus ride on a featureless interstate highway. If you are deeply, spiritually bored by the world, you are suffering from ennui — that's boredom in French!

Example Sentences

But he got bored with the paperwork required to emigrate and changed his mind.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

Some—like the Shakespeare-reading New Hampshire farmer John Ordway and the Kentucky woodsmen Joseph and Reuben Field—were poor and bored and ready for adventure.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

I’m pleasantly surprised by what I’m listening to instead of frustrated and bored.

From Slate • Apr. 12, 2026

He would take members’ wives antique shopping or sit through movies with the children of members who were bored at the tournament.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

When I complain that I’m bored, Dad gives me a paintbrush and sits me down so I can “help.”

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

Related Words

• disinterested
• fatigued
• tired