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adj A2 Elementary Common

bored

bawd

Bored (adj) means feeling restless and uninterested from having nothing engaging to do. Example: “The kids got bored during the long car ride.”

adj
1
Feeling restless and uninterested from having nothing engaging to do.
"The kids got bored during the long car ride."
"She looked bored throughout the entire meeting."

How to Use Bored

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFeeling restless or uninterested because there's nothing engaging happening.

Common mistake

Use "bored of" only in informal speech — "bored with" or "tired of" is more standard in writing.

Common pairings
bored to death get bored bored stiff

Word Forms

more bored comparative, boreder comparative, most bored superlative, boredest superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The kids got _____ during the long car ride.

Etymology

From "bore" (the verb) + "-ed."

Related Words

Rhymes for bored

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “bored” mean?

The word “bored” means feeling restless and uninterested from having nothing engaging to do. In plain terms, feeling restless or uninterested because there's nothing engaging happening.

How do you pronounce “bored”?

“Bored” is pronounced bawd (/bɔɹd/ in IPA).

How do you use “bored” in a sentence?

Here is “bored” used in a sentence: “The kids got bored during the long car ride.”

What part of speech is “bored”?

“Bored” is an adjective.

Is “bored” a common word?

“Bored” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

What is the difference between bored and boring?

Bored describes how a person feels, restless and uninterested from having nothing engaging to do. Boring describes the thing that causes that feeling. A person is bored, while a dull lecture is boring, so saying "I am boring" wrongly means you make others feel that way.

Is it 'bored of', 'bored with', or 'bored by'?

All three are used. "Bored with" is the most widely accepted in formal writing, "bored by" often names what caused the feeling, and "bored of" is very common in everyday speech though seen as more informal. "Bored with the game" and "bored by the game" are both safe choices.

What is the difference between bored and tired?

Bored means feeling restless and uninterested because nothing engaging is happening. Tired means needing rest or sleep, a physical lack of energy. You can be bored while wide awake, and tired while doing something interesting.

Is bored an informal word?

Bored is a neutral, everyday adjective suitable for both casual and formal contexts. Stronger informal alternatives include fed up and stir-crazy, while more formal writing might use words such as listless or uninterested.

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