goodbye

or good-bye

[ good-bahy ]

interjection

1. farewell (a conventional expression used at parting).

noun

, plural good·byes.

1. a farewell.

goodbye

/ ˌɡʊdˈbaɪ /

sentence substitute

1. farewell: a conventional expression used at leave-taking or parting with people and at the loss or rejection of things or ideas

noun

1. a leave-taking; parting

   they prolonged their goodbyes for a few more minutes

2. a farewell

   they said goodbyes to each other

Word History and Origins

Origin of goodbye¹

First recorded in 1565–75; contraction of God be with ye

Word History and Origins

Origin of goodbye¹

C16: contraction of God be with ye

Example Sentences

“This is a little way of saying goodbye,” Murillo said.

From Los Angeles Times

On another occasion when they were finishing an interview at his flat, while saying goodbye, she said, Wallace initiated a “really big hug”.

From BBC

When he caught flu, he ended up in an induced coma and his family were twice called in to say their last goodbyes, with doctors telling them "you've got half an hour with him, tops".

From BBC

“It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Bob Bryar, our former bandmate and an important part of the history of My Chemical Romance,” the band wrote Monday on Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times

"Any Country that tries should wave goodbye to America," he wrote.

From Salon

Related Words

• adieu
• bye-bye