adj B1 Intermediate Common

bold

BOHLD

Bold (adj) means willing to take risks; confident and daring. Example: “It was a bold move to quit her job without another lined up.”

adj

Willing to take risks; confident and daring.

"It was a bold move to quit her job without another lined up."

"The general made a bold decision to attack at dawn."

Strong and eye-catching in appearance.

"The poster used bold colours to grab attention."

Describing a heavier, thicker style of print text.

"The keywords are printed in bold so you can spot them quickly."

verb

To make text appear in the thicker, bold style.

"She bolded the heading to make it stand out."

How to use bold

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither confident and daring, or (for text) printed in a thicker, darker style.

Common pairings

bold move bold colours bold text bold statement

Word forms

bolder comparative, more bold comparative, bolded past tense, bolds plural, Bolds plural, bolds singular, boldest superlative, most bold superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

It was a _____ move to quit her job without another lined up.

Etymology

From Old English bald/beald, meaning brave or confident, going back to a very old Germanic root shared with Dutch boud and Swedish båld.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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daring audacious fearless confident striking vivid embolden

Related words

sure certain beautiful contact moving telling bright marked

Rhymes for bold

old gold cold hold sold fold mold scold

See all rhymes for bold →

Frequently asked questions

What does “bold” mean?

The word “bold” means willing to take risks; confident and daring. In plain terms, either confident and daring, or (for text) printed in a thicker, darker style.

How do you pronounce “bold”?

“Bold” is pronounced BOHLD (/boʊld/ in IPA).

How do you use “bold” in a sentence?

Here is “bold” used in a sentence: “It was a bold move to quit her job without another lined up.”

What is another word for “bold”?

Words with a similar meaning to “bold” include embolden.

What part of speech is “bold”?

Depending on how it is used, “bold” can be an adjective and a verb.

Where does the word “bold” come from?

The word “bold” comes from Old English. From Old English bald/beald, meaning brave or confident, going back to a very old Germanic root shared with Dutch boud and Swedish båld.

Is “bold” a common word?

“Bold” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “bold” have?

“Bold” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: willing to take risks; confident and daring.

What is the difference between "bold" and "brave"?

"Brave" emphasizes facing danger or fear with courage, while "bold" stresses confidence and a willingness to take risks, sometimes to the point of being daring or forward. A brave act meets danger, while a bold one shows nerve and initiative.

What is the difference between "bold" and "rude"?

Being "bold" means being confident and daring, which is usually viewed positively, while "rude" means lacking manners or being offensive. A bold remark shows nerve, whereas a rude one shows disrespect.

When should you use "bold" instead of "daring"?

Use "bold" for general confidence and a readiness to take risks, and "daring" when you want to stress boldness in the face of real danger or convention. "Daring" carries a slightly stronger sense of pushing limits.

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