goodbye

A1 Topic:Communication

Also spelled good-by and good-bye

US /ɡʊdˈbaɪ/
intj noun verb Freq #717

Meanings

  1. 1
    interj

    Said when leaving someone or ending a conversation.

    Goodbye, see you tomorrow!

  2. 2
    noun

    An act of saying farewell.

    They said their goodbyes at the airport.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 interj · said when leaving someone... byeadieufarewell
Opposites
Word family
Forms goodbyes

Etymology

From earlier goodby, Godby, Godby'e, Godbwye, God b'w'y, God bwy yee, God buy you, God be wi' you, each a progressively shorter contraction of God be with ye or God be with you. Note the change of God to good by confusion with good morning, good night, etc. Modernly analysed as good + bye.

View etymology graph ->

Topics

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