Bye Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/baɪ/

Part of Speech

Interjection

Definition

A word used to express parting or farewell, often used in a friendly or affectionate manner.

Etymology

From Old English “bi” (by), with influences from Old French “adieu” and Latin “vale.”

Usage Notes

Use “Bye” to bid farewell to someone, often in a casual or informal setting. However, in more formal or professional contexts, use “Goodbye” or ” Farewell.”

Cultural References

One of the most iconic uses of “Bye” is in the popular video game “Mario Kart” where a character’s favorite phrase is “Bye, Mom!”.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

Bye-bye
So long, bye

Related Words or Phrases

Goodbye
Farewell
Au revoir

Collocations

Bye for now
Bye-bye for now

Frequency of Use

[According to the corpus of spoken language, “Bye” is used around 10% of the time when parting from someone.]