bully

1
[ bool-ee ]
See synonyms for: bullybulliedbullierbulliest on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural bul·lies.
  1. a blustering, mean, or predatory person who, from a perceived position of relative power, intimidates, abuses, harasses, or coerces people, especially those considered unlikely to defend themselves: playground bullies targeting children with disabilities;a workplace bully who cuts me off when I speak.

  2. Archaic. a man hired to do violence.

  1. Obsolete. a pimp; procurer.

  2. Obsolete. a good friend; good fellow.

  3. Obsolete. a sweetheart; darling.

verb (used with object),bul·lied, bul·ly·ing.
  1. to act the bully toward; habitually intimidate, abuse, or harass: The boy next door constantly bullies the younger children in the neighborhood.

  2. to coerce or compel by bullying: The salesman bullied me into upgrading the car's paint protection and rust-proofing.

verb (used without object),bul·lied, bul·ly·ing.
  1. to act as a bully: People who bully are often very insecure.

adjective
  1. Informal: Older Use. fine; excellent; very good: What a bully meal!

  2. Archaic. dashing; jovial; high-spirited.

interjection
  1. Informal. good! well done!: If your bus commute saves you time and gets you to work on time, well bully for you!

Origin of bully

1
First recorded in 1530–40; from Middle Dutch boele “lover”

Other words for bully

Other words from bully

  • bul·ly·a·ble, adjective
  • un·bul·lied, adjective
  • un·bul·ly·ing, adjective

Words Nearby bully

Other definitions for bully (2 of 4)

bully2
[ bool-ee ]

adjective
  1. of or relating to a pit bull or bulldog: The shelter has a number of bully breed mix puppies available for adoption.

Origin of bully

2
First recorded in 1880–85; bull(dog) + -y1

Other definitions for bully (3 of 4)

bully3
[ bool-ee ]

Origin of bully

3
First recorded in 1750–55; from French bouilli, short for boeuf bouilli “boiled meat”; see origin at boil1, beef

Other definitions for bully (4 of 4)

bully4
[ bool-ee ]

noun,plural bul·lies.
  1. Soccer. a desperate, freewheeling scramble for the ball by a number of players, usually in the goal area.

  2. Field Hockey. a method of putting the ball into play in which two opponents, facing each other, tap their sticks on the ground near the ball and then make contact with each other's sticks over the ball three times, after which each tries to gain possession of the ball.

Origin of bully

4
First recorded in 1860–65; of obscure origin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use bully in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bully (1 of 2)

bully1

/ (ˈbʊlɪ) /


nounplural -lies
  1. a person who hurts, persecutes, or intimidates weaker people

  2. archaic a hired ruffian

  1. obsolete a procurer; pimp

  2. obsolete a fine fellow or friend

  3. obsolete a sweetheart; darling

verb-lies, -lying or -lied
  1. (when tr , often foll by into) to hurt, intimidate, or persecute (a weaker or smaller person), esp to make him do something

adjective
  1. dashing; jolly: my bully boy

  2. informal very good; fine

interjection
  1. Also: bully for you informal well done! bravo!

Origin of bully

1
C16 (in the sense: sweetheart, hence fine fellow, hence swaggering coward): probably from Middle Dutch boele lover, from Middle High German buole, perhaps childish variant of bruoder brother

British Dictionary definitions for bully (2 of 2)

bully2

/ (ˈbʊlɪ) /


nounplural -lies
  1. any of various small freshwater fishes of the genera Gobiomorphus and Philynodon of New Zealand: Also called (NZ): pakoko, titarakura, toitoi

Origin of bully

2
C20: short for cockabully

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012