Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

homebound

1 American  
[hohm-bound] / ˈhoʊmˈbaʊnd /

adjective

  1. going home.

    homebound commuters.


homebound 2 American  
[hohm-bound] / ˈhoʊmˌbaʊnd /

adjective

  1. confined to one's home, especially because of illness.


Etymology

Origin of homebound1

First recorded in 1880–85; home + bound 4

Origin of homebound2

First recorded in 1880–85; home + bound 1

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:

As for assessing the mental health of your grandson, a telehealth visit can absolutely be an appropriate starting point, particularly if he is homebound.

From MarketWatch Sep. 2, 2026

Less than a year into his tenure, the pandemic hit, and homebound consumers flocked to familiar brands like Kraft mac and cheese.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 2, 2026

It got to the point where even sitting became uncomfortable for Victoria, and she was largely homebound until her baby was born.

From BBC Nov. 13, 2025

A revival of urban population growth would signal that in spite of the headwinds—the lure of a homebound, digital-first life in the ’burbs—cities still offer a product that Americans want.

From Slate May 16, 2025

Lola hooks her arm with mine and we spin, tape guns in the air, around our homebound boxes.

From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training