# goodbye

/ˌɡʊdˈbaɪ/ (US) · /ɡʊdbˈaɪ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. farewell

interjection · CEFR A1

a word you say when you or another person is leaving.

For teachers: a conventional formula used at the time of parting.

- She waved and said goodbye as she stepped onto the train.
- Goodbye, and please do not hesitate to contact our office if any further complications arise during your journey.

### 2. the act of saying farewell

noun · CEFR A2

the act of saying the word goodbye or the moment when people leave each other.

For teachers: an utterance of farewell or the occasion of parting.

- It was a sad goodbye at the airport because they wouldn't see each other for months.
- The long-serving CEO gave a brief, emotional goodbye to the staff before clearing his desk for the final time.

### 3. to say farewell

verb · CEFR B2 · Literary

to say the word goodbye to someone.

For teachers: to express a farewell to someone upon their departure.

- They stood on the porch and goodbyed their guests as the car drove off.
- The villagers gathered at the quay to goodbye the sailors away on their long expedition across the Atlantic.

Usage: often used with 'to' or in the phrase 'goodbye someone away'

## Examples

- She waved a final goodbye from the train window.
- After a long dinner with friends, we said our goodbyes and promised to meet again soon.
- The protagonist's silent goodbye to his childhood home serves as a poignant transition into the novel's second act, marking his definitive departure from innocence.

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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.