bode

1 of 2

verb

boded; boding

transitive verb

1
: to indicate (something, such as a future event) by signs : presage
bode disaster
recent data that bodes well for her reelection
2
archaic : to announce beforehand : foretell

bode

2 of 2

past tense of bide

Phrases
bode ill
: to show or suggest that future developments or events will be unfavorable or unwelcome : to be a sign of trouble to come
Any further diminishing of the species' gene pool can only bode ill for the future.John Hew Fanshawe
bode well
: to show or suggest that future developments or events will be good or favorable : to be a sign of good things to come
… the news … does not bode well for our future standard of living.Lester C. Thurow

Examples of bode in a Sentence

Verb This could bode disaster for all involved. her natural gift for reading boded well for her future in school
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Gold and metallics will also bode well in tropical settings as alternatives to neutral hues like beige or tan, which may skew too closely to white. Shelby Ying Hyde, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2024 Tapping into a third group of customers, in this case pet owners, could bode well for Starbucks. Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 But the current trajectory of the war does not bode well for the accords or the security of the Middle East, said Mohammed Baharoon, the head of B’huth, a Dubai research center. Vivian Nereim, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 Its findings on the issues bode well for the GOP, however, with 36% of voters saying the economy is the top issue, an area Republicans generally score well on with voters. Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2024 This should bode well for renewable energy stocks, by making financing of large-scale projects more affordable. Trefis Team, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 The sighting didn't bode well for rumors that Justin Bieber would be joining Usher on stage during the Super Bowl Half Time Show. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 12 Feb. 2024 What does the future bode for the Homemade Cafe under this new model? John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2024 Noah Fifita looks like the quarterback of the future, which bodes well for a sustained run as Fisch continues to build the program. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 12 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bode.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English bodian; akin to Old English bēodan to proclaim — more at bid entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of bode was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near bode

Cite this Entry

“Bode.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bode. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bode

1 of 2 verb
boded; boding
: to indicate (as a future event) by signs : foreshadow

bode

2 of 2

past of bide

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