# farewell

/ˌfɛɹˈwɛɫ/ (US) · /feəwˈɛl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/farewell
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the act of saying goodbye

noun · CEFR B2

the act of saying goodbye or a party held for someone who is leaving.

For teachers: an occasion or act of saying goodbye, often marked by a formal ceremony or social gathering.

- The office organized a small farewell for Sarah before she moved to Spain.
- The retiring professor gave a moving farewell to his colleagues, reflecting on four decades of academic service.

### 3. final or parting

adjective · CEFR B2

describing something that happens as someone is leaving, like a final speech or concert.

For teachers: serving as a final or parting act; valedictory in nature.

- The band is playing their farewell concert in London tonight.
- The diplomat's farewell address focused on the importance of maintaining international cooperation in the coming decade.

### 4. to say goodbye

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Dialect

to say goodbye to someone.

For teachers: to bid farewell to someone; to perform the act of saying goodbye.

- We gathered at the airport to farewell our friends as they moved abroad.
- The community gathered at the docks to farewell the sailors before their year-long expedition began.

Usage: Common in Australian and New Zealand English as a transitive verb; elsewhere, it is often replaced by 'say goodbye to'.

## Examples

- They gathered at the station to say a final farewell.
- The company organized a small party as a farewell to the manager who was retiring after thirty years.
- His moving farewell to the troops emphasized the shared sacrifices of the campaign and the uncertain peace that lay ahead.

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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.