bully
1 Americannoun
-
bullies
plural
-
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.
-
Archaic. a man hired to do violence.
-
Obsolete. a pimp; procurer.
-
Obsolete. a good friend; good fellow.
-
Obsolete. a sweetheart; darling.
verb (used with object)
-
bullies,
present (3rd person singular)
-
bullied,
past participle, past
-
bullying
present participle
-
to intimidate, abuse, or harass, especially habitually.
The boy next door constantly bullies the younger children in the neighborhood.
-
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)
-
bullies,
present (3rd person singular)
-
bullied,
past participle, past
-
bullying
present participle
adjective
interjection
adjective
noun
noun
-
bullies
plural
-
Soccer. a desperate, freewheeling scramble for the ball by a number of players, usually in the goal area.
-
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
-
a person who hurts, persecutes, or intimidates weaker people
-
archaic a hired ruffian
-
obsolete a procurer; pimp
-
obsolete a fine fellow or friend
-
obsolete a sweetheart; darling
verb
adjective
-
dashing; jolly
my bully boy
-
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
-
bullysimple
-
bulliessimple
-
have bulliedperfect
-
has bulliedperfect
-
am bullyingprogressive
-
are bullyingprogressive
-
is bullyingprogressive
-
have been bullyingperfect progressive
-
has been bullyingperfect progressive
Past
-
bulliedsimple
-
had bulliedperfect
-
was bullyingprogressive
-
were bullyingprogressive
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Michelle Obama's Speech at the 2016 DNC
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
History is made in PA: Clinton's DNC Acceptance Speech
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
He develops a reputation for aggression, seemingly fighting a war against everyone on the asphalt that spins out when he attempts to bully a cosmopolitan French driver into submission.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
Convery has nicely feathered hair and a character burdened by the plot’s corniest contrivances: a bully stubbornly pursuing him to the literal end of civilization, a lost pet dog that he’s determined to rescue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
“Yes, Starlink may bully its way into mobility, but it would take years to acquire and clear the right spectrum,” he wrote.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 25, 2026
Some experts believe the XL bully ban, external and "alpha-style dog training" is encouraging mistreatment of related types.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
I hated how the world kept trying to bully me into believing that I was the problem.
From "A Very Large Expanse of Sea" by Tahereh Mafi
“It is infectious to play a character who sees the best in people and isn’t mad at the world for all its foibles and bullies and shadows,” Sudeikis recently told the Hollywood Reporter.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026
In a statement published in the Virginian-Pilot, Truelove said he drove to Granby High School in Norfolk because he thought bullies were threatening the school.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
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
"Why is it not the bullies that are getting those restrictions?"
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
I really don’t know why bullies have such a good sense of humor.
From "The Watsons Go to Birmingham" by Christopher Paul Curtis
We only know them through the prism of men: Jane lusts after Yoga Dude, Coco rages at Roger, Sophie is bullied by her boss.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
“I’m here to say today that we will not be bullied by these developers,” the governor said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
"The public has bullied her out of it. We've bullied her out of fame. I think that's gross."
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
The consistency of United's messaging is being articulated in a summer where they are keen to prove they will not be bullied into overpaying to get deals over the line.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
He mapped it out, bullied and cajoled clubs into producing volunteer crews, and personally superintended the construction of hundreds of miles of path.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
Australia banned under 16s last year from the likes of Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, in a crackdown designed to protect children from online bullying and "predatory algorithms".
From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026
The announcement blindsided staff, who had been working with the couple on initiatives extending from online bullying to vaccination campaigns.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
It’s hard to tell when, exactly, raising legitimate concern about a woman celebrity’s appearance became synonymous with your run-of-the-mill misogyny or bullying.
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026
Animal welfare groups have welcomed the decision, but supporters accused campaigners of "bullying" a small island community.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
I’m making some money, and these kids are getting protection from bullying on their walks to and from school.
From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya
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.
