farewell

1 of 4

imperative verb

fare·​well fer-ˈwel How to pronounce farewell (audio)
: get along well
used interjectionally to or by one departing

farewell

2 of 4

noun

fare·​well fer-ˈwel How to pronounce farewell (audio)
1
: a wish of well-being at parting : goodbye
said their farewells and headed home
2
a
: an act of departure : leave-taking
I will take my farewell of this place tomorrow.
b
: a formal occasion honoring a person about to leave or retire
held a great farewell for the retiring senator

farewell

3 of 4

verb

fare·​well fer-ˈwel How to pronounce farewell (audio)

transitive verb

chiefly Australia and New Zealand
: to bid farewell to

farewell

4 of 4

adjective

fare·​well ˈfer-ˌwel How to pronounce farewell (audio)
: of or relating to leave-taking : final
a farewell performance

Examples of farewell in a Sentence

Noun They said their farewells and headed home. the exchange student and her host family said their tearful farewells, promising to keep in touch Verb The retiring teacher was farewelled by the whole school at a special assembly. Adjective The band gave a farewell concert. the singer's farewell tour seemed to last almost as long as her entire career
Recent Examples on the Web
Imperative verb
At the Jewish Museum talk this month, as security guards escorted one group of activists out, Cherkassky bade them farewell with an expletive. Marc Tracy, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024 The Detroit News captured video at that practice of Bagley and Livers bidding teammates farewell after learning of the deal. Tim Reynolds, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2024 With this devastating first section of its final chapter, Netflix’s crown jewel bids farewell to an icon, and retakes its throne. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 16 Nov. 2023 Giant pandas arrive in China after 23 years in D.C. National Zoo bids farewell to beloved pandas returning to China after 23 years in U.S. Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 9 Nov. 2023 During the past few weeks, visitors like Josh and Shelley have come to the zoo to say farewell and recall the role the giant pandas played in their lives. Michael E. Ruane, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023 But the memorial was also a homecoming and farewell from those who knew her best. Helen Li, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2023 Look no further than the LCD Soundsystem farewell tour (and The Long Goodbye live album and Shut Up and Play the Hits documentary) as proof. Vulture Staff, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2023 That is in addition to such celebrated classical-music stars as cellist Alisa Weilerstein, pianists Yefim Bronfman and Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and the Kronos Quartet, whose March 8 concert is billed both as a 50th anniversary and farewell tour performance. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2023
Noun
Upon closer examination of the album cover of Xiao Xia 3.0, one discerns a tearful Xiao Xia bidding farewell to her youth. Billboard China, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2024 An often-emotional farewell press conference felt like far more of a family affair than a business decision with Jason's younger brother, Travis Kelce, sitting nearby. USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024 The group’s contract was not renewed, and a farewell ceremony was held in an auditorium in Mexico City. Alma Guillermoprieto, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Jon Stewart's tearful farewell to his dog, Dipper, on The Daily Show Monday quickly had the New York City animal shelter the pup came from inundated with donations. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2024 Topline Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s funeral will take place on Friday in Moscow, his team said Wednesday, following difficulties finding a location willing to host a farewell ceremony for the Kremlin’s most prominent critic who died in a remote Arctic penal colony earlier this month. Robert Hart, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Three of the black-and-white fluff balls departed the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington last year, triggering a long and tearful farewell. Lily Kuo, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024 The rescheduled tour, however, was reframed as a farewell, and with Watt once again replacing LeNoble, who departed the band amicably this time. Pamela Chelin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2024 Simon wrapped his farewell tour in his hometown of Queens in September 2018. Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2024
Verb
The Detroit News captured video at that practice of Bagley and Livers bidding teammates farewell after learning of the deal. Tim Reynolds, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2024 During the past few weeks, visitors like Josh and Shelley have come to the zoo to say farewell and recall the role the giant pandas played in their lives. Michael E. Ruane, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023 Giant pandas arrive in China after 23 years in D.C. National Zoo bids farewell to beloved pandas returning to China after 23 years in U.S. Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 9 Nov. 2023 With this devastating first section of its final chapter, Netflix’s crown jewel bids farewell to an icon, and retakes its throne. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 16 Nov. 2023 But the memorial was also a homecoming and farewell from those who knew her best. Helen Li, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2023 Look no further than the LCD Soundsystem farewell tour (and The Long Goodbye live album and Shut Up and Play the Hits documentary) as proof. Vulture Staff, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2023 That is in addition to such celebrated classical-music stars as cellist Alisa Weilerstein, pianists Yefim Bronfman and Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and the Kronos Quartet, whose March 8 concert is billed both as a 50th anniversary and farewell tour performance. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2023 Bid those old, overused tank tops, T-shirts, and shorts farewell and create a new capsule wardrobe for this season. Sarah Byron, Peoplemag, 14 Apr. 2023
Adjective
In the brewery’s final days, look for a weeklong celebration that will include its final music bingo, trivia and open mic nights, plus a farewell party. Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2024 Noah’s final 10 weeks as host in 2022 drew about 412,000 viewers per night; his farewell week clocked in at 441,500 viewers. Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2024 Eisenhower’s fundamental concern in his farewell address was imbalance. Dominic Pino, National Review, 30 Jan. 2024 Christie, a longtime critic of Trump, appeared to make sure during his farewell address that questions about the former president loomed large over his former competitors on the stage. Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2024 The medical drama starring Freddie Highmore returns for its farewell season Tuesday, Feb. 20. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 11 Jan. 2024 Roth’s goal was to make this farewell season about the games, and there is no bigger one than Monday‘s. J. Brady McCollough, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2024 This new incarnation of Steely Dan tours every single year, and will be on the road opening for the Eagles‘ farewell tour for the foreseeable future. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2024 Raise a farewell toast for Shane MacGowan, one of rock’s most fiendishly brilliant growlers, snarlers, songwriters, storytellers, and blackguards. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2023

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

Word History

First Known Use

Imperative Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1580, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1669, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of farewell was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near farewell

Cite this Entry

“Farewell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/farewell. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

farewell

1 of 3 imperative verb
fare·​well fa(ə)r-ˈwel How to pronounce farewell (audio)
fe(ə)r-
: get along well
used to or by one departing

farewell

2 of 3 noun
1
: an expression of good wishes at parting : good-bye
2
: an act of departure

farewell

3 of 3 adjective
fare·​well
ˌfa(ə)r-ˌwel,
ˌfe(ə)r-
: of or relating to a time or act of leaving : final
a farewell concert

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