bold

[bohld]

adjective

bolder, boldest 

1. not hesitating or fearful in the face of actual or possible danger or rebuff; courageous and daring.

   a bold hero.

   Synonyms: dauntless, valorous, intrepid, valiant, brave, adventurous, fearless

2. not hesitating to break the rules of propriety; forward; impudent.

   He apologized for being so bold as to speak to the emperor.

   Antonyms: modest

3. necessitating courage and daring; challenging.

   a bold adventure.

4. beyond the usual limits of conventional thought or action; imaginative.

   Einstein was a bold mathematician.

   a difficult problem needing a bold answer.

5. striking or conspicuous to the eye; flashy; showy.

   a bold pattern.

6. steep; abrupt.

   a bold promontory.

7. Nautical.,  deep enough to be navigable close to the shore.

   bold waters.

8. Printing.,  typeset in boldface.

9. Obsolete.,  trusting; assured.

bold

/ bəʊld /

adjective

1. courageous, confident, and fearless; ready to take risks

2. showing or requiring courage

   a bold plan

3. immodest or impudent

   she gave him a bold look

4. standing out distinctly; conspicuous

   a figure carved in bold relief

5. very steep

   the bold face of the cliff

6. imaginative in thought or expression

   the novel's bold plot

7. printing set in bold face

noun

1. printing short for bold face

Other Word Forms

• boldly adverb
• boldness noun
• overbold adjective
• superbold adjective
• unbold adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bold¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English bald, bold, Old English b(e)ald; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German bald, Dutch boud “bold,” Old Norse ballr “dire,” from unattested Germanic bálthaz; akin to Welsh balch “proud,” Irish balc “strong”

Word History and Origins

Origin of bold¹

Old English beald ; related to Old Norse ballr dangerous, terrible, baldinn defiant, Old High German bald bold

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be / make (so) bold, to presume or venture; dare.

   I made bold to offer my suggestion.

More idioms and phrases containing bold

• big and bold
• make bold

Synonym Study

Bold, brazen, forward, presumptuous may refer to manners in a derogatory way. Bold suggests impudence, shamelessness, and immodesty: a bold stare. Brazen suggests the same, together with a defiant manner: a brazen liar. Forward implies making oneself unduly prominent or bringing oneself to notice with too much assurance. Presumptuous implies overconfidence, effrontery, taking too much for granted.

Example Sentences

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the investments "are a testament to Britain's economic strength and a bold signal that our country is open, ambitious, and ready to lead".

From BBC

"This is not just a gentle nudge; it's a bold challenge to a system that has hoarded power for decades."

From BBC

I did not hear from him for two days, so I made the bold decision to message him to see whether he wanted to get together that day.

From Los Angeles Times

From what we saw on Sunday, he’s exactly what people who love bold television need.

From Salon

The first thing you see in their men’s store is the metal, spiral racks tastefully stocked with hoodies from brands like Kapital and Jacquemus, and bold graphic tees from Martine Rose or Acne Studios.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clear 
• colorful 
• definite 
• eye-catching 
• flashy 
• forceful 
• lively 
• loud 
• spirited 
• strong 
• vivid