goodbye

noun

good·​bye gu̇d-ˈbī How to pronounce goodbye (audio)
gə(d)-
variants or good-bye or less commonly goodby or good-by
1
: a concluding remark or gesture at parting
often used interjectionally
2
: a taking of leave
a tearful goodbye

Examples of goodbye in a Sentence

said our good-byes and headed for home
Recent Examples on the Web During their last days of filming, Mitchell publicly grieved with fans in a heartfelt goodbye on social media. EW.com, 9 May 2024 The aforementioned goodbye between Peter, Ned and MJ at the end of No Way Home was a result of Peter’s insistence that Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) cast a spell where everyone in the multiverse forgets that Peter Parker is Spider-Man. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for goodbye 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'goodbye.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

alteration of God be with you

First Known Use

1575, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of goodbye was in 1575

Dictionary Entries Near goodbye

Cite this Entry

“Goodbye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goodbye. Accessed 14 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

good-bye

noun
variants or good-by
gu̇d-ˈbī,
gəd-,
gə-
: a concluding remark at parting
often used interjectionally
Etymology

a shortened and altered form of God be with you

More from Merriam-Webster on goodbye

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!