goodbye

guhd-BY/ɡədˈbaɪ/

3 meanings of goodbye

1
interjection
Said when you part from someone, whether you or they are leaving; farewell.
Goodbye for now. I'll write when I reach the coast.
The children shouted goodbye as the bus rolled away from the curb.
UsageCommon patterns include say goodbye to someone and wave goodbye.
Similarfarewell, bye, cheerio, adieu
Oppositehello, hi
2
nouncountable
An act of saying farewell to someone.
The long goodbye on the platform nearly delayed the train.
He hated goodbyes and often slipped out without saying one.
UsageOften plural in say your goodbyes, for the whole round of farewells.
Similarfarewell, parting, send-off
Oppositegreeting, hello
3
verbcolloquialtransitive
To wish someone farewell as you part from them.
Parents who goodbye their children at the school gate often linger to wave until the doors close.
She spent twenty minutes goodbying the whole family at the front door.
Oppositegreet, welcome

Practice

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Origin

This developed from the phrase "God be with ye" (or "God be with you"), which was gradually contracted through forms like "God b'w'y" and "God buy you" into "goodbye." The shift from "God" to "good" came about through confusion with greetings like "good morning" and "good night," and the word is now analysed as good + bye.

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Goodbye developed by contraction of God be with ye or God be with you, through the stated intermediate forms. en.wiktionary.org
God became good through association with greetings such as good morning and good night. en.wiktionary.org
Goodbye is now analysed as good + bye. en.wiktionary.org