bold

Formsbolds, bolding, bolded

Pluralbolds

1. 1
   braveadjective

   Showing courage and a readiness to take risks or face danger.

   The general's bold attack caught the enemy completely off guard.

   Her bold decision to quit a secure job surprised everyone who knew her.

   UsageCommon pattern: it was bold of someone to do something. Used of choices and plans as well as people: a bold move.

   Similardaring, brave, courageous, audacious, fearless

   Oppositeconservative, reluctant, cautious

   Note

   The oldest sense of the adjective, and the one the others grow from. Old English bald already meant brave and confident but also presumptuous and impudent, so praise and reproach have shared the word from the start. The word praises acts and choices as readily as people (bold deeds), and its opposites (risk-averse, conservative, reluctant) show that it is about an appetite for risk, not bravery alone. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

   • Old English bald had both approving meanings such as brave and confident and disapproving meanings such as presumptuous and impudent. en.wiktionary.org
2. 2
   eye-catchingadjective

   Standing out clearly to the eye; visually striking and conspicuous.

   The designer chose a bold pattern for the living room curtains.

   Bold graphics covered the entire front of the magazine.

   Similarstriking, vivid, eye-catching, strong, bright

   Oppositesubtle, muted, understated

3. 3
   thick printadjective

   Printed with thicker strokes than the regular form of a typeface, making the text stand out.

   The editor used bold headings to set them apart from the body text.

   Each key term is bold on its first appearance in the chapter.

   UsageOften in the phrase in bold: the warning is in bold.

   Oppositeregular, light

   Note

   A typographer's word for weight: bold is a heavier weight within the same typeface family, not a different design. In HTML, the <b> tag produces it by default. Applying it has its own verb, to bold text, which grew out of this use.

4. 4
   strong tasteadjective

   Of food or drink, having a strong, rich, and distinctive flavor.

   The sommelier recommended a bold red to match the grilled steak.

   Their house blend is darker and bolder than most of the others.

   UsageCommon combinations include bold coffee, a bold red, and bold flavors. The comparative is bolder, and the superlative is boldest.

   Similarfull-bodied, robust, rich, strong

   Oppositelight, mild, delicate

   Note

   A tasting word. A wine is bold when it is full-bodied, with real weight on the palate from alcohol, tannin or extract.

5. 5
   adjective

   Behaving in a forward, presumptuous, or disrespectful way.

   Her bold remark about the host's cooking embarrassed everyone at the table.

   It was rather bold of him to help himself to a drink before being offered one.

   UsageCan sound admiring or critical, so context decides. Add a word like rude or cheeky to make the criticism clear.

   Similarforward, brazen, impudent, presumptuous, cheeky

   Oppositeshy, timid, meek

   Note

   Here courage tips into overstepping, an edge already present in the Old English word behind the "courageous" meaning. David Hume, in 1748, writes of "the boldest and most affirmative Philosophy" trying to impose its dictates on mankind. That is boldness as presumption, not bravery. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

   • Bold derives from an Old English word that already included presumptuous and impudent senses alongside courageous senses. en.wiktionary.org
   • The Hume work containing the quotation was first published in 1748. en.wikisource.org
   • Hume wrote the quoted phrase and described philosophy attempting to impose its dictates on mankind. en.wikisource.org
6. 6
   make text thickverbcolloquialtransitive

   To make a font or piece of text appear in heavier strokes.

   Bold the key terms before you print the handout for the class.

   She bolded the deadline in the email so nobody would miss it.

   Similarembolden, boldface

   Note

   Editing shorthand built on the typographic adjective: you bold a subhead, and once done it is bolded.

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