good-by

IPA/ɡˈʊdbˈaɪ/
IPA/ɡˈʊdbˈaɪ/

good-by — noun

1. a word, phrase, or gesture that someone uses when they are leaving another perso

1.名詞A2
釋義

a word, phrase, or gesture that someone uses when they are leaving another person, meaning you wish them safety and happiness until you meet again.

例句

Amira waved a final good-by to her classmates as the train pulled out of the station.

good-by + wave — physical gesture accompanying farewell

Diego gave his younger brother a quick good-by and rushed to catch the last bus home.

同義詞
  • farewell

    more formal or ceremonial; suggests a longer or permanent parting rather than a casual one

  • adieu

    very formal or literary; borrowed from French, rarely used in everyday speech

  • so long

    informal American expression; friendly and casual, often used in the western United States

反義詞
  • greeting

    words said when meeting, not when leaving

  • hello

    the standard word used when arriving or meeting someone

文法句型

say + good-by

wave + good-by

good-by + to + person

用法筆記

Good-by is the American English spelling of goodbye, which is more common worldwide. This sense is frequently used as a spoken interjection ('Good-by, everyone!') when parting, not only as a noun.

常見錯誤

❌I said good-by when I arrived at the party.
✅I said good-by when I left the party.
💡Good-by is spoken when departing, not when arriving or entering a place.
❌She wrote good-by on the birthday card.
✅She wrote a short good-by in the farewell card.
💡Good-by as a noun needs a determiner (a, her, his) unless used as an interjection in dialogue.

2. the act or moment of leaving someone or a familiar place, often with feelings of

2.名詞B1
釋義

the act or moment of leaving someone or a familiar place, often with feelings of sadness or finality — for example, saying farewell to a hometown, a job, or a group of friends for the last time.

例句

Nkechi's good-by to her hometown was harder than she had imagined, with so many memories tied to every street.

possessive + good-by + to — describing someone's act of leaving

Mateo found it difficult to make a proper good-by after fifteen years at the same company.

同義詞
  • parting

    neutral and widely used; focuses on the separation itself rather than the emotional weight

  • leave-taking

    more formal or literary; emphasizes the ceremonial or deliberate nature of saying goodbye

  • farewell

    formal; can describe both the words and the event of parting, often implying permanence

反義詞
  • arrival

    the act of reaching a place, opposite of leaving it

  • reunion

    meeting again after a separation, the opposite of parting

文法句型

possessive + good-by + to + person/place

make + possessive + good-by

用法筆記

Frequently appears with a possessive noun or pronoun ('her good-by,' 'the children's good-by'). Often used with the verb 'make' or 'say.' Distinguish from Sense 1 (FAREWELL REMARK), where good-by is the actual word or gesture rather than the act of leaving.

常見錯誤

❌We said our good-by before the movie.
✅We said our good-by after the movie ended, outside the theater.
💡A good-by is the act of leaving, so it happens when people separate, not before an event starts.
❌I waved good-by to the beautiful sunset.
✅I waved good-by to my friends as the sun set.
💡Good-by is for people you are leaving behind, not for objects or natural scenery.