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

• farewell

Examples of goodbye in a Sentence

said our good-byes and headed for home

Recent Examples on the Web

When a yellow crane appears, memory and reality blur — guiding his spirit home in a final goodbye seen only by his granddaughter. —Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025

My friend Jim and I had said our last goodbye in the hallway of his New York apartment a month earlier. —Ann Patchett, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025

Is the album also a goodbye to Italy, in your own way? —Billboard Italy, Billboard, 26 Sep. 2025

Malone deserved a news conference and a proper goodbye upon his firing. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025

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