English Reference

Word

bombed

US/ˈbɑmd/

UK/bˈɒmd/

Definitions

01attacked with explosives

B1

v. attacked or damaged using bombs.

v. subjected to an attack involving explosive devices. Transitive in this sense.

“The old factory was bombed during the war and never rebuilt.”

“The strategic port was bombed repeatedly throughout the winter, leaving the supply lines in a state of total collapse.”

02failed completely

B2

v. failed very badly, especially a performance or a test.

v. failed significantly or was received very poorly by an audience. Intransitive in this sense.

“I thought my jokes were funny, but I totally bombed on stage last night.”

“Despite the massive marketing budget, the film bombed at the box office during its opening weekend.”

Informal

03very drunk or high

C1

adj. extremely affected by alcohol or drugs.

adj. heavily intoxicated by alcohol or under the influence of controlled substances.

“He stayed at home because he got way too bombed at the party.”

“The group arrived at the diner looking completely bombed, much to the annoyance of the late-night staff.”

Slang

Usage

Usually follows a linking verb like 'get' or 'be'.

Antonyms

Real-World Examples

“It's a similar story for movies like "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" or TV shows like "Marvel's She-Hulk." They performed well despite being review bombed.”
Phys.org · 1 Sept 2026
“Maryam’s family’s home was bombed in January 2024, and she now lives in her grandmother’s house in Deir el-Balah.”
Al Jazeera · 14 Aug 2026

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/bombed

English Reference