bail

1 of 7

noun (1)

ˈbāl 

: a container used to remove water from a boat

bail

2 of 7

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

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

3 of 7

noun (2)

1

law : the temporary release of a prisoner in exchange for security (see security sense 2a) given for the prisoner's appearance at a later hearing

being held without bail

The suspect is now out on bail.

2

law : security given for the release of a prisoner on bail

Bail was set at $300,000.

a motion to reduce bail

3

law : one who provides bail

bail

4 of 7

verb (2)

bailed; bailing; bails

transitive verb

1

: 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

: 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

5 of 7

noun (3)

1

a

: a U-shaped strip used to support something (such as the cover of a wagon or the canopy of a small boat)

b

: a hinged bar for holding paper against the platen of a typewriter

2

: a usually arched handle (as of a kettle or pail)

bail

6 of 7

verb (3)

bailed; bailing; bails

transitive verb

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

bail

7 of 7

noun (4)

chiefly British

: a device for confining or separating animals

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• bail out
• begone
• book [slang]
• bug off
• bug out
• bugger off [British slang]
• buzz (off)
• clear off [chiefly British]
• clear out
• cut out
• depart
• dig out
• exit
• get
• get off
• go
• go off
• move
• pack (up or off)
• part
• peel off
• pike (out or off)
• pull out
• push off
• push on
• quit
• run along
• sally (forth)
• scarper [British]
• shove (off)
• step (along)
• take off
• vamoose
• walk out

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

Noun

Their parents were being held in pretrial detention without bail, as of Wednesday, April 30, per ABC. —Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 1 May 2025

Rodriguez is being held without bail on a murder charge, deputies said. —Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2025

Verb

Hong Kong investors bailed him out in exchange for 70% of the property. —Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025

People who can’t afford to buy flood insurance should not be allowed to build there — then wait for FEMA to bail them out. —Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English baille, from Anglo-French, bucket, from Medieval Latin bajula water vessel, from feminine of Latin bajulus porter, carrier

Verb (1)

verbal derivative of bail entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English, custody, bail, from Anglo-French, literally, handing over, delivery, from baillier to give, entrust, hand over, from Latin bajulare to carry a burden, from bajulus porter, carrier

Verb (2)

verbal derivative of bail entry 3

Noun (3)

Middle English beil, baile, probably from Old English *begel, *bygel; akin to Middle Dutch beughel iron ring, hilt guard; akin to Old English būgan to bend — more at bow

Verb (3)

Anglo-French baillier

Noun (4)

perhaps from bail entry 5

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1613, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (3)

1768, in the meaning defined above

Noun (4)

1844, 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)