goodbye

Sometimes good·by,
Or good-bye

[good-bahy]

interjection

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

noun

plural

goodbyes 

1. a farewell.

goodbye

/ ˌɡʊdˈbaɪ /

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

She said Mrs Posner had been in favour of legalising assisted dying in England: "She wouldn't have had to make those arrangements, had to travel, she could've said goodbye more publicly."

From BBC

“I go to the station and everyone’s packing their stuff. People are crying, saying their goodbyes.”

From Los Angeles Times

The judges said: "A road trip chronicle, a book about sickness, a basketball novel, a family saga, and a story about how we say goodbye, with a ridiculously relatable narrator."

From BBC

But the vibe wasn’t so much “goodbye” and it was “we’ll be right back,” since the team and its fans are expecting to return to Dodger Stadium to open the National League playoffs next week.

From Los Angeles Times

Kelly: And he has a phrase when you say goodbye to him?

From BBC

Related Words

• adieu 
• bye-bye