# bloody

/ˈbɫədi/ (US) · /blˈʌdi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bloody
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. covered in blood

adjective · CEFR B2

covered or stained with blood.

For teachers: covered, smeared, or stained with blood; literal physical state.

- He had a bloody nose after he accidentally walked into the glass door.
- The surgeon removed his bloody gloves and dropped them into the clinical waste bin before scrubbing for the next procedure.

### 2. violent

adjective · CEFR B2

involving a lot of violence and death.

For teachers: characterised by significant bloodshed or extreme violence.

- The two countries have a long and bloody history of fighting over the border.
- Historians often debate whether the revolution could have achieved its aims without such a bloody and protracted civil war.

### 3. annoying (intensifier)

adjective · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal · Vulgar

a swear word used to show you are angry or to emphasize what you are saying.

For teachers: used as an attributive intensifier to express annoyance, anger, or emphasis; common in British and Commonwealth dialects.

- I can't find my bloody keys anywhere and I'm already late for work.
- He described the entire ordeal as a bloody nightmare, expressing his frustration with the bureaucratic delays that had stalled the project for months.

Teaching tip: While common in British English, this is still a swear word; it is inappropriate in formal or professional settings.

### 4. very (intensifier)

adverb · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal · Vulgar

used before an adjective to mean 'very' when you are feeling strong emotions.

For teachers: used as an adverbial intensifier to add emphasis to an adjective or adverb, typically conveying irritation or surprise.

- It is bloody cold outside today, so make sure you wear a heavy coat.
- The exam was bloody difficult, and most of the students walked out of the hall looking completely defeated.

Usage: Always placed immediately before the adjective or adverb it modifies.

### 5. to stain with blood

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to get blood on something.

For teachers: to stain or smear something with blood; often used figuratively to mean damaging an opponent's reputation or cause.

- The soldiers had bloodied their hands in the long battle.
- The scandal managed to bloody the reputation of the prime minister, though it did not lead to his immediate resignation.

## Examples

- He had a bloody nose after the accident.
- The surgeon removed his bloody gloves and dropped them into the bin before washing his hands.
- The historical novel provides a bloody account of the battle, detailing the physical toll on the soldiers and the grim reality of the field hospital.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.