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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 See all Example Sentences for bode 

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 14 Nov. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on bode

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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