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

Sereed Toddler Balance Bike Say goodbye to your little one fighting nap time. — Parents, 23 June 2026

Tiger Mask said goodbye to Mexico at CMLL on Saturday Night. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2026

After a tearful goodbye with Fern, Kat finally made her way to the present day. — Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026

His castmates said goodbye to him at the end of Furious 7 (2015) in an emotional scene where Dom and Brian drive together down a coastal highway before splitting off onto different roads. — Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 22 June 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