Definition

Interjection: * A word or phrase used to express farewell when someone is leaving or a conversation is ending. It is a conventional, polite way to say that you are parting from someone.

Noun: * An act of saying goodbye; a farewell. It refers to the words spoken or the event of parting.

Usage

• As an Interjection: Used at the end of an encounter. It can stand alone as a complete utterance.
  • "Good-bye! See you tomorrow!"
  • She waved and said, "Good-bye."
• As a Noun: Often used with verbs like "say," "bid," or "wave." It can be singular or plural.
  • We said our good-byes and left the party.
  • It was a difficult goodbye.

Advanced Usage

• "to kiss something goodbye": To accept that you have lost something or that something will not happen.
  • If you leave your wallet on the bus, you can kiss it goodbye.
• "to say goodbye to": To accept the loss or end of something.
  • With this injury, he had to say goodbye to his football career.

Variants and Related Words

• Goodbye (noun, interjection): The most common modern spelling, often written as one word.
• Good-by (noun, interjection): An older variant spelling.
• Goodbye (adjective): Used to describe a final act, as in or
• Farewell (noun, interjection): A more formal synonym for goodbye.

Synonyms

• Farewell (more formal)
• Bye / Bye-bye (more informal, casual)
• See you later / See ya (informal, implies a future meeting)
• So long (informal)
• Adieu (from French, implies a more permanent parting)

Related Phrases

• Wave goodbye: To say goodbye by moving your hand from side to side.
  • The children waved goodbye from the window.
• Bid someone goodbye: A formal way to say "say goodbye to someone."
  • He came to the station to bid us goodbye.

Related Idioms

• Goodbye and good riddance: Said to express relief that someone or something unwanted has left.
  • He was a terrible tenant. Goodbye and good riddance!
• Don't say goodbye just yet: A phrase asking someone not to leave immediately.
  • Don't say goodbye just yet; I have one more thing to tell you.

Noun

1. a farewell remark
   • they said their good-byes