Search Dictionary
Definition of bode

bode

/boʊd/
bode
Past Simple:boded
•
Past Participle:boded
•
Present Participle:boding
JUMP TO:

bode Lexical Profile

bode Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To be an omen or portent of a particular outcome, especially when used with 'well' or 'ill'.

Example

"The sudden drop in quarterly revenue does not bode well for the company's expansion plans."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for bode

Word Nuance & Usage

In contemporary English, 'bode' is almost exclusively used in the fixed collocations 'bode well' or 'bode ill' (frequently with 'not') to indicate whether something is a favorable or unfavorable sign for the future.

• Rhymes for bode

• Nearby Words

bocourts water snake
bod
bodacious
bode
bodega
bodge
bodhi

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'bodian' (to proclaim, announce, or foretell), derived from 'boda' (messenger), which traces back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning to offer or command.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bode. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bode
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Word Games & Solvers
Word FinderScrabble Word FinderWords With Friends CheatWordle SolverAnagram Solver
Dictionary & Reference
DictionarySynonymsAntonymsWords
Community
Contact UsEditorial PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.