top definitions
quizzes
related content
examples
explore dictionary
british

bully

¹

[ bool-ee ]

/ ˈbʊl i /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR bully ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural bul·lies.

a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people.

Archaic. a man hired to do violence.

Obsolete. a pimp; procurer.

Obsolete. good friend; good fellow.

Obsolete. sweetheart; darling.

verb (used with object), bul·lied, bul·ly·ing.

to act the bully toward; intimidate; domineer.

verb (used without object), bul·lied, bul·ly·ing.

to be loudly arrogant and overbearing.

adjective

Informal. fine; excellent; very good.

dashing; jovial; high-spirited.

interjection

Informal. good! well done!

VIDEO FOR BULLY

WATCH NOW: The Word "Bully" Used To Mean ... "Sweetheart"?!

The word bully is first recorded around the mid-1500s, when it actually meant—wait for it—“sweetheart.” What?!

MORE VIDEOS FROM DICTIONARY.COM

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

"Little Women" may be a classic, but that doesn't mean we all know the meanings of the vocab words from the book. Can you define these words correctly and make Jo proud?

Question 1 of 10

earnest

full seriousness, as of intention or purpose.

a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish.

urgent character; imperativeness; insistence; importunateness.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of bully

¹

First recorded in 1530–40, bully is from the Middle Dutch word boele lover

SYNONYMS FOR bully

6 cow, browbeat, coerce; terrorize, tyrannize.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR bully ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM bully

bul·ly·a·ble, adjectiveun·bul·lied, adjectiveun·bul·ly·ing, adjective

Words nearby bully

bullshot, bullsnake, bullwaddy, bullwhacker, bullwhip, bully, bully beef, bully pulpit, bully tree, bully-off, bullyboy

Definition for bully (2 of 3)

bully²

[ boo l-ee ]

/ ˈbʊl i /

noun

Origin of bully

²

1865–70; < French bouilli, short for boeuf bouilli boiled meat. See boil¹, beef

Definition for bully (3 of 3)

bully³

[ boo l-ee ]

/ ˈbʊl i /

noun, plural bul·lies.

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.

Origin of bully

³

First recorded in 1860–65; of obscure origin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for bully

UNO puts such an onus on smoking students that it ultimately seems like a bully, even more than a nanny.
The University Of New Orleans’ Cigarette Ban Is Total BS|Chloé Valdary|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And when we have been spared such tragedy, it has happened precisely because presidents have stood up to the bully caucus.
Please—Let's Not Destroy ISIS|Michael Tomasky|September 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But as a true anti-bullying champion will tell you, a bully is no less a bully simply because his victim seeks to excuse him.
Ray Rice Should Have Remembered His 'Kindness' Anti-Bullying Wristband|Michael Daly|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Or maybe even one on each wrist, both reading “I AM A BULLY.”
Ray Rice Should Have Remembered His 'Kindness' Anti-Bullying Wristband|Michael Daly|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

If I am elected, then I will have power and the ability to ‘bully’ Republicans, as you say.
Dem Candidate: GOP Worse Than ISIS|Olivia Nuzzi|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The bully of the music-hall shouting "Jingo" had his special audience.
The Whirlpool|George Gissing
Wherever Henry or his allies could bribe or bully the learned doctors, an answer was usually given in the affirmative.
A Student's History of England, v. 2 (of 3)|Samuel R. Gardiner.
Once Starrett had motored up officiously to bully Wherry into coming back to him.
Diane of the Green Van|Leona Dalrymple
Bully yarn youve turned up, came his appreciative comment over the clatter of the keys.
The Gray Phantom's Return|Herman Landon
Men are a good deal like pintos; some you can coax and some you can bully, but they all of 'em buck at the first gate.
The Fifth Ace|Douglas Grant

British Dictionary definitions for bully (1 of 2)

bully¹

/ (ˈbʊlɪ) /

noun plural -lies

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 -lies, -lying or -lied

(when tr , often foll by into) to hurt, intimidate, or persecute (a weaker or smaller person), esp to make him do something

adjective

dashing; jollymy bully boy

informal very good; fine

interjection

Also: bully for you informal well done! bravo!

Word Origin for bully

C16 (in the sense: sweetheart, hence fine fellow, hence swaggering coward): probably from Middle Dutch boele lover, from Middle High German buole, perhaps childish variant of bruoder brother

British Dictionary definitions for bully (2 of 2)

bully²

/ (ˈbʊlɪ) /

noun plural -lies

any of various small freshwater fishes of the genera Gobiomorphus and Philynodon of New ZealandAlso called (NZ): pakoko, titarakura, toitoi

Word Origin for bully

C20: short for cockabully

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Try Our Food Word Quiz! Play Now