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bye-bye

bye-bye

279 1.1
A friendly informal way to say goodbye when leaving
  • noun
  • /ˈbaɪˌbaɪ/
  • Informal
translation icon : chao
  • After the meeting, everyone said their cheerful "bye-bye" and left the room.
  • wave bye-bye

So and then you can say bye bye to problem sets.

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Examples

  • You stood up in your crib, started imitating, and waved bye-bye at eight months.

    Academic text (2012)
  • She looked at me, said bye bye and then ran away.

  • I can't wait to see you on the next one and until then, bye bye, I love you.

  • I would walk down the front steps of the house while Michael and J waved bye-bye from the door.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Say bye-bye, Billy, everybody, as Uncle Ed drives the white Ford truck down the long driveway.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Bye-bye, I'm really leaving.

  • I was tempted to wipe my cheek, where she kissed me bye-bye.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Bye-bye, you country bumpkins.

  • The Oregonian's banner headline the following day read "Bye-bye Trojan: Tower is blasted into history."

    Academic text (2007)
  • As I waved bye-bye, I cheerfully said, "Bye-bye!" to my friends.

Synonyms

see ya
vsbye-bye
  • Texting
8.4

A friendly way to say goodbye when you expect to meet again

is informal but does not usually imply a future meeting
goodbye
vsbye-bye
1.0

Words people say when they leave each other

is informal while this is a neutral standard farewell
bye
vsbye-bye
  • Informal
306 1.0

A short word or action people use when they leave each other

is informal while this is a shorter neutral parting form
farewell
vsbye-bye
199 1.9

A speech or action that says goodbye and wishes someone well

is informal and more casual than this often formal term
good day
vsbye-bye
  • Formal
131 1.0

A polite or formal way to say goodbye when parting

is informal and used in casual leaving rather than formal parting
see you later
vsbye-bye
  • Informal
95 1.0

A casual goodbye said when leaving someone and expecting to meet again

is informal but often lacks any clear promise to meet again
so long
vsbye-bye
  • Informal
77 6.3

A casual word for goodbye used when leaving someone

is informal but generally shorter and less expressive
good-bye
vsbye-bye
59 1.0

Words or actions people use when they leave

is informal while this is the general formal parting word
good-by
vsbye-bye
50 4.4

Words or actions people use when they leave each other

is informal whereas this written form reads as more standard
ciao
vsbye-bye
  • Informal
47 8.5

A casual way to say hello or goodbye in Italy

is used only when leaving rather than also as a greeting
adios
vsbye-bye
  • Informal
34 7.2

A word people use to say goodbye

is informal but used as a native everyday parting in English
sayonara
vsbye-bye
31 8.6

A goodbye used when someone leaves for a long time

is informal and lacks the strong sense of finality
adieu
vsbye-bye
  • Literature
24 9.3

A final goodbye you say when leaving for a long time

is informal and used for ordinary brief partings instead
cheerio
vsbye-bye
  • UK
17 8.9

A friendly way to say goodbye

is informal but not specifically marked by that friendly label
arrivederci
vsbye-bye
11 9.8

A friendly way to say goodbye

is informal and less formal than this borrowed expression
nice knowing you
vsbye-bye
4 8.0

A polite goodbye said when you do not expect to see someone again

is informal and used for ordinary departures without finality
toodle
vsbye-bye
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A playful word people use to say goodbye

is informal but often used without a playful tone
deuces
vsbye-bye
  • Slang
1 9.9

A casual way to say goodbye, often with a peace sign

is informal but usually spoken without that slang gesture
word of farewell
vsbye-bye
1 4.6

A short spoken or written message saying goodbye and good wishes

is informal and mainly a spoken casual parting phrase
goodby
vsbye-bye
  • Archaic
1 3.0

A short phrase people say when they leave each other

is informal while this is a neutral general parting term
ta ta
vsbye-bye
  • UK
8.7

A casual way to say goodbye to someone

is the same informal parting expression used in casual speech
toodle pip
vsbye-bye
  • Archaic
9.9

A cheerful informal way to say goodbye

is informal but less deliberately cheerful in tone
cheers
vsbye-bye
  • UK
6.7

A friendly informal word used to thank someone, say goodbye, and to make a toast before drinking

is informal but focuses on leaving rather than thanking
smell you later
vsbye-bye
  • Informal
9.9

To say goodbye in a playful, joking way

is informal but is more neutral and not joking
love you and leave you
vsbye-bye
  • Informal
8.2

To say goodbye in a warm, loving way when you must leave

is informal but lacks the affectionate implication
ta ta for now
vsbye-bye
  • UK
9.5

A friendly informal way to say goodbye when you will see or speak to someone soon

is informal but does not always carry a near return implication
pip pip
vsbye-bye
  • Archaic
9.9

A friendly old-fashioned British way to say goodbye

is informal but is not typically described as old fashioned
9.9

A funny way to say goodbye when leaving a group

is informal but far shorter and not literary in style
auf wiedersehen
vsbye-bye
9.8

A German phrase people use to say goodbye

is informal and less formal than this foreign phrase
chao
vsbye-bye
  • Philippine
8.6

A casual way to say goodbye to someone

is informal and interchangeable in everyday parting situations

Antonyms

9 1.0

A short greeting you say when you meet someone or answer the phone

How Formal

farewell
199 1.9
goodbye
1.0
bye
  • Informal
306 1.0
bye-bye
  • Informal
279 1.1
see ya
  • Texting
8.4

Surface Forms

bye-bye singular
bye-byes plural

Etymology

The word bye-bye comes from the short word bye, a friendly form of 'goodbye', and is made by repeating the word like simple child talk such as mama, so it sounds gentle and easy to say. So, bye-bye is used when leaving someone, often to comfort children or to make a parting feel friendly.