bail

1 of 3

verb (1)

bailed; bailing; bails

transitive verb

1

: to clear (water) from a boat by dipping and throwing over the side

—usually used with out

bailing water out of the boat

2

: to clear water from by dipping and throwing

—usually used with out

They had to start bailing out the rowboat.

intransitive verb

: bail out sense 2

You can't say he has ever bailed when things got tough, because that's just not true.

—Richard Hoffer

Before the party moved elsewhere, I bailed, exhausted.

—Steve Hirdt

bail

2 of 3

verb (2)

bailed; bailing; bails

transitive verb

1

law : to temporarily release (a prisoner) in exchange for security (see security sense 2a) given for appearance at a later hearing : to release under bail (see bail entry 3 sense 1)

2

law : to procure the release of by giving bail (see bail entry 3 sense 2)

—often used with out

Her lawyer bailed her out of jail.

3

: to help from a predicament

—used with out

His parents are always bailing him out of trouble.

bail out impoverished countries

bailable

ˈbā-lə-bəl 

adjective

bail

3 of 3

verb (3)

bailed; bailing; bails

transitive verb

: to deliver (personal property) in trust to another for a special purpose and for a limited period

Synonyms of bail

Verb (1)

• exit
• move
• depart
• get
• go
• escape
• flee
• evacuate
• start
• bail out
• fly

Examples of bail in a Sentence

Verb (1)

after two hours of that boring party, we were ready to bail

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Two people in the pickup truck bailed and fled on foot, state police said. —Adam Harrington, CBS News, 8 June 2026

Wembanyama bailed the Knicks out. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 7 June 2026

Part of the enduring love for Cindy and Brenda, Hall said, is that Brenda consistently and comically bails on Cindy, every single time. —Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026

Rudd had landed a recurring role on the popular drama series Sisters a few years before Clueless, then bailed to study classic English drama at Oxford. —Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

verbal derivative of bail entry 1

Verb (2)

verbal derivative of bail entry 3

Verb (3)

Anglo-French baillier

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1613, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (3)

1768, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bail

• bail out
• jump bail
• remand (someone) on bail
• skip bail

Rhymes for bail

• ail
• ale
• baile
• dail
• fail
• flail
• frail
• gael
• gail
• grail
• hail
• jail

Kids Definition

bail

1 of 5 noun

ˈbā(ə)l 

: a container used to remove water from a boat

bail

2 of 5 verb

: to remove (water) from a boat by dipping and throwing over the side

—usually used with out

bail

3 of 5 noun

1

: the temporary release of a prisoner in exchange for a deposit of money ensuring the later appearance of the prisoner in court

2

: the deposit of money needed to temporarily free a prisoner

3

: a person who provides bail

bail

4 of 5 verb

: to get the release of (a prisoner) by giving bail

bail

5 of 5 noun

1

: a semicircular support

2

: the handle of a kettle or pail

Etymology

Noun

Middle English baille "bucket, bail," from early French baille "bucket," from Latin bajula "water container," derived from bajulus "porter, carrier"

Noun

Middle English bail "custody, bail," derived from early French baillier "to give, entrust," derived from Latin bajulare "to carry a load," from bajulus "porter, carrier"

Noun

Middle English beil, baile "half hoop, bail"

Legal Definition

bail

1 of 2 noun

ˈbāl 

1

: the temporary release of a prisoner in exchange for security given for the prisoner's appearance at a later hearing

while free on bail

2

: the security given for a prisoner's release

also : the amount or terms of the security

excessive bail shall not be required

—U.S. Constitution amend. VIII

posted cash bail

motion to reduce bail

3

: one who provides bail and is liable for the released prisoner's appearance

bail may arrest or authorize arrest of principal

—Code of Alabama

bail

2 of 2 transitive verb

1

: to release on bail

2

: to obtain the release of by giving bail

—often used with out

3

: to place (personal property) under a bailment

identity of the article claimed to have been bailed

—Peet v. Roth Hotel Co., 253 N.W. 546 (1934)

Note: Property is usually bailed by putting it temporarily in the custody of another for a specific purpose, as safekeeping or delivery to a third party.

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French, act of handing over, delivery of a prisoner into someone's custody in exchange for security, from bailler to hand over, entrust, from Old French, from Latin bajulare to carry (a burden)