bode

1 of 2

verb

ˈbōd 

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

Synonyms

Verb

• augur
• forebode
• forbode
• promise

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

Data center power demand could boost companies with ties to transporting and storing natural gas, and that bodes well for a few stocks that also happen to pay attractive dividends, according to Bank of America. —Darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2024

This boded well with the investors, and WBA stock surged over 20% in two days. —Trefis Team, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024

Counting on someone else to do things for you won’t bode well when you are stuck with the fallout. —Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2024

The answers, as with most things involving the Russian oligarchical class, bode well for no one. —Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024

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

Kids Definition

bode

1 of 2 verb

ˈbōd 

boded; boding

: to indicate (as a future event) by signs : foreshadow

bode

2 of 2

past of bide