adj A2 Elementary Common

bored

bawd

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Bored (adj) means feeling restless and uninterested from having nothing engaging to do. Example: “I was so bored on the rainy Sunday that I tidied my whole bookshelf.”

adj

Feeling restless and uninterested from having nothing engaging to do.

"I was so bored on the rainy Sunday that I tidied my whole bookshelf."

"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

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Comparative: more bored, boreder
Superlative: most bored, boredest

Test yourself on “bored” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

I was so _____ on the rainy Sunday that I tidied my whole bookshelf.

Etymology

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

Synonyms

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uninterested listless fed up restless unengaged weary blase

Antonyms

excited

Related words

happy interested wear sad tired weak excited emotional

Rhymes for bored

gored colored armored rumored floored anchored doctored restored enamored explored tailored censored

See all rhymes for bored →

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.

Example sentences

Real-world examples showing bored in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.

If you're bored constantly across different activities, that's worth examining: it can signal under-stimulation (you need harder challenges), over-stimulation burnout (you've used your novelty budget), or sometimes just a need for rest.

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