bullying
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bullying
First recorded in 1675–85; bully 1 ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. )
Explanation
Bullying is the act of intimidating someone else. Threatening to beat up your little brother if he doesn't clean your room for you is most certainly an act of bullying. You may have heard of the word bully, which is a person, often young, who harasses others. A schoolyard bully might call you names, steal your lunch money, and generally make your life miserable. Bullying is the act of being a bully. Believe it or not, bullying can be serious business with grave consequences. There are even laws that require schools to take action against bullying.
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.
“While we cannot comment on the specific allegations contained in the lawsuit, Redlands Unified takes concerns involving discrimination, harassment, bullying, and student well-being seriously,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026
But O’Donnell has refused to be cowed by the president’s bullying for nearly 20 years.
From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026
“It’s the subtle hidden bullying that’s the worst,” Kaplan Jørgensen says.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026
Kirsten wants schools and parents to work together to tackle bullying, and to control access to phones and social media for children.
From BBC • May 26, 2026
Maybe his pizza initiative would wipe out bullying and homework at Stirling Middle School.
From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty
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.
