Bombard Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/bʌmˈbɑrd/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Verb

Definition

To attack or bombard (something) with a rapid and intense assault, typically by artillery, bombing, or other military action. Alternatively, to fill or overflow (something) with a large amount of something, such as water or noise.

Examples

• The city was bombed relentlessly by enemy forces.
• The garden was inundated with water after the storm, bombarding the soil with water.
• The rock concert bombarded the audience with deafening music.
• The fire alarm bombarded the residents with a cacophony of noise.
• The military commander ordered a ceasefire to bombard the enemy with artillery fire.

Synonyms

• Assail
• Overwhelm

Antonyms

• Declutter
• Retrain

Additional Information

Bombard is a versatile verb that can be used in various contexts. In military contexts, it typically refers to an intense attack by artillery or bombing. In everyday contexts, it may refer to the act of filling or overflowing something with a large amount of something. The word has Latin origins and is derived from the verb “bombare,” which means “to throw or hurl.” Bombard can also be used to describe the act of filling or overflowing something with noise, such as a fire alarm or a rock concert.

Etymology

The word “bombard” has its origins in the 14th-century Latin verb “bombare,” which means “to throw or hurl.” The verb was later adopted into Middle English as “bombarden,” and eventually became the modern English verb “bombard.”

Usage Notes

Bombard is a versatile verb that can be used in various contexts. In military contexts, be sure to use the correct terminology and jargon to describe the action accurately. In everyday contexts, use bombard to describe the act of filling or overflowing something with a large amount of something.

Cultural References

Bombard has been used in various cultural references, such as in the title of the 1995 film “Bombard” and in the lyrics of the song “Bombard” by the band “OneRepublic.”

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

Common idioms or phrases that include the word bombard include “to bombard with questions” and “to get bombarded with requests.”

Related Words or Phrases

• Attack
• Inundate
• Overwhelm

Collocations

• Bombard with questions
• Bombard with noise
• Bombard with criticism

Frequency of Use

Bombard is a relatively rare verb in modern language, but it has gained popularity in certain contexts, such as in military and technical writing.

Common Misspellings

• Barmaid
• Combard