goodbye

noun

good·​bye gu̇d-ˈbī 

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

Synonyms of goodbye

• farewell

Examples of goodbye in a Sentence

said our good-byes and headed for home

Recent Examples on the Web

Following an emotional goodbye to outgoing Superintendent Lisa Allen, the Sacramento City Unified School District board named longtime district employee Cancy McArn as acting leader of the district. —Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 6 Feb. 2026

During the last days of The Last Carrot, everybody wants to say goodbye. —Connie Ogle february 5, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026

Primates were rumored to say goodbye at least a few times before Baehren and Carvalho’s study of Chacma baboons. —Shayla Love, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026

The remaining games will be nothing more than a 30-game wake for a dynasty that didn’t know how or when to say goodbye. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of God be with you

First Known Use

1575, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing goodbye

• kiss goodbye
• kiss something goodbye
• say goodbye to
• wave goodbye

Rhymes for goodbye

• ai
• aye
• bae
• bi
• buy
• by
• bye
• chai
• chi
• cry
• die
• dry

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