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good-by

good-by

50 4.4
Words or actions people use when they leave each other
  • noun
  • /ˈɡʊdˌbaɪ/
translation icon : adiós
  • Before leaving for college, he hugged his friends and said good-bye.
  • say good-by
  • a good-by kiss
  • a good-by hug

Examples

  • At the end of the evening, the Hathaways said lengthy good-byes, then made their way home, escorted by Harry.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • "I am going to say good-bye to you guys soon," he said.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Well I just wanted to say good-bye and thank you both for everything.

  • "Because, really, we kind of made Grace let us come over." "Good-bye," her mom says.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • "I remember saying good-bye to Leo at breakfast on the morning of June the fourth.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The nice man came to say good-bye to us.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • You left me once... Without saying good-bye.

  • "Sometimes you have to say good-bye to someone you love," answered the Mouse.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Don't you remember we said good-bye to each other this morning?

  • When I left, he shook hands and said, "Good-bye, Catherine."

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

goodbye
vsgood-by
1.0

Words people say when they leave each other

is a broader act or expression rather than only a single remark
bye
vsgood-by
  • Informal
306 1.0

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

is the general act or expression for leaving rather than this short form
bye-bye
vsgood-by
  • Informal
279 1.1

A friendly informal way to say goodbye when leaving

is the neutral act or phrase for parting rather than a casual childlike phrase
farewell
vsgood-by
199 1.9

A speech or action that says goodbye and wishes someone well

is the ordinary act of parting used in everyday situations
good day
vsgood-by
  • Formal
131 1.0

A polite or formal way to say goodbye when parting

is the general act or phrase for parting at any time, not only daytime
good night
vsgood-by
77 1.0

A polite phrase for saying goodbye in the evening before sleep

is the general act or phrase for parting, not limited to evenings
so long
vsgood-by
  • Informal
77 6.3

A casual word for goodbye used when leaving someone

is the general act or expression for parting, not specifically casual
good-bye
vsgood-by
59 1.0

Words or actions people use when they leave

is the general expression or act rather than a single instance
adios
vsgood-by
  • Informal
34 7.2

A word people use to say goodbye

is the general act or phrase for parting rather than this specific foreign form
sayonara
vsgood-by
31 8.6

A goodbye used when someone leaves for a long time

is the general expression or act of parting without the implied finality
parting
vsgood-by
30 3.2

To leave or say goodbye to someone

is the single expression or act used during that leaving event
adieu
vsgood-by
  • Literature
24 9.3

A final goodbye you say when leaving for a long time

is the general act or phrase for departure, not necessarily permanent
au revoir
vsgood-by
22 8.5

A polite way to say goodbye when you expect to see someone again

is the general act or phrase for parting without implying future meeting
cheerio
vsgood-by
  • UK
17 8.9

A friendly way to say goodbye

is the neutral act or phrase for parting, not specifically playful or casual
to have a good one
vsgood-by
  • Informal
15 6.3

Wish someone a nice day or a good time as a friendly goodbye

is the simple act or phrase of saying farewell without the added wish
arrivederci
vsgood-by
11 9.8

A friendly way to say goodbye

is the ordinary act or phrase for parting, not a foreign loan exclamation
nice knowing you
vsgood-by
4 8.0

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

is the ordinary act or phrase of parting without implying final separation
fare thee well
vsgood-by
  • Archaic
3 9.9

A way to say goodbye and wish someone well

is a simple parting phrase used in ordinary modern speech rather than archaic form
leave-taking
vsgood-by
  • Formal
1 7.0

To say goodbye in a polite or formal way

is the general expression or act of parting, not necessarily formal
goodby
vsgood-by
  • Archaic
1 3.0

A short phrase people say when they leave each other

is the general act or expression of parting beyond a single word
word of farewell
vsgood-by
1 4.6

A short spoken or written message saying goodbye and good wishes

is the general act of parting, not just a single expression
auf wiedersehen
vsgood-by
9.8

A German phrase people use to say goodbye

is the general native act or phrase for parting, not a borrowed foreign phrase

Antonyms

583 1.0

Greet someone in a friendly way when they arrive

How Final

to farewell
  • Formal
5 3.5
good-by
50 4.4
bye
  • Informal
306 1.0
see you later
  • Informal
95 1.0

Surface Forms

good-by singular
good-bys plural

Etymology

Good-by comes from an older, shortened phrase, God be with you, which people said when they left to wish safety to each other. That's why good-by still means a farewell, a way to say 'take care'.