bailed; bailing; bails
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
: bail out sense 2
You can't say he has ever bailed when things got tough, because that's just not true.—
Richard Hoffer
Richard HofferBefore the party moved elsewhere, I bailed, exhausted.—Steve Hirdt
Steve Hirdt1
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
bailed; bailing; bails
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
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)
bailed; bailing; bails
: to deliver (personal property) in trust to another for a special purpose and for a limited period
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
Recent Examples on the WebJack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
He was arrested on suspicion of arson and was being held on $75,000 bail in Butte County Jail.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 5 Apr. 2024
He was recently released on bail from a prison in Montenegro, where he was arrested last year and awaits extradition.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
Gatt was reportedly released the same day on $5,000 bail.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
The suspects were Chilean nationals, and at least one of them was out on bail for another crime, according to a complaint filed in Orange County.
—Josh Campbell, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Yang told Malloy several friends and family, including members of Milwaukee's Enduring Love International Church, were in the gallery to post bail.
—Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
The courts have mostly refrained from granting bail to many of these individuals.
—Astha Rajvanshi, TIME, 2 Apr. 2024
Kelly is being held on $3.06 million bail, while Clark’s bail is set at $4.06 million, according to prosecutors.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 29 Mar. 2024
Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2024
The same culprit is almost always responsible for bailing on the market: fear and uncertainty.
—Wes Moss, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
But, when part of the finance collapsed, the other financiers bailed and preparations came to a halt.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024
In a brief hearing Monday, prosecutors strongly objected to letting Richardson out of jail, saying in court filings that even after baby Winter’s death, Richardson bailed on a drug treatment program and relapsed.
—Scooty Nickerson, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024
William is bailing on royal funerals for unexplained reasons and is probably, quite understandably, feeling overwhelmed by the problems of middle age coming at him all at once.
—Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 29 Feb. 2024
Indeed, Schwarzenegger goes Full Austrian in the spot, struggling to pronounce State Farm’s tagline until his diminutive co-star from the 1988 blockbuster Twins and the ’94 follow-up Junior bails him out.
—USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2024
Potential borrowers now have every reason to take on more student debt, knowing that one day the federal government will bail them out.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 24 Feb. 2024
The Dodgers’ first at-bat lasted so long that ESPN bailed on its in-game interview with right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. one out into the marathon inning.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024
Noun
He was then taken into custody and released the next morning on $50,000 bail.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
He was arrested on suspicion of arson and was being held on $75,000 bail in Butte County Jail.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 5 Apr. 2024
He was recently released on bail from a prison in Montenegro, where he was arrested last year and awaits extradition.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
Gatt was reportedly released the same day on $5,000 bail.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
The suspects were Chilean nationals, and at least one of them was out on bail for another crime, according to a complaint filed in Orange County.
—Josh Campbell, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Yang told Malloy several friends and family, including members of Milwaukee's Enduring Love International Church, were in the gallery to post bail.
—Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
The courts have mostly refrained from granting bail to many of these individuals.
—Astha Rajvanshi, TIME, 2 Apr. 2024
Kelly is being held on $3.06 million bail, while Clark’s bail is set at $4.06 million, according to prosecutors.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
Oscar Barrett’s dad also bailed on him, as did Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and Trevor’s (Finn Wolfhard) dad.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2024
The same culprit is almost always responsible for bailing on the market: fear and uncertainty.
—Wes Moss, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
But, when part of the finance collapsed, the other financiers bailed and preparations came to a halt.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024
In a brief hearing Monday, prosecutors strongly objected to letting Richardson out of jail, saying in court filings that even after baby Winter’s death, Richardson bailed on a drug treatment program and relapsed.
—Scooty Nickerson, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024
William is bailing on royal funerals for unexplained reasons and is probably, quite understandably, feeling overwhelmed by the problems of middle age coming at him all at once.
—Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 29 Feb. 2024
Indeed, Schwarzenegger goes Full Austrian in the spot, struggling to pronounce State Farm’s tagline until his diminutive co-star from the 1988 blockbuster Twins and the ’94 follow-up Junior bails him out.
—USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2024
Potential borrowers now have every reason to take on more student debt, knowing that one day the federal government will bail them out.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 24 Feb. 2024
The Dodgers’ first at-bat lasted so long that ESPN bailed on its in-game interview with right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. one out into the marathon inning.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bail
Cite this Entry
“Bail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bail. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bail
1 of 5 noun
: 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 noun1
: 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 noun1
: 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 noun1
: 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
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
Code of Alabamabail
2 of 2 transitive verb1
: 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)
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)
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