Bound — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun verb /ˈbau̇nd/

Meaning & Definition of Bound

Bound (adjective)

  1. fastened by or as if by a band, confined —often used in combination
  2. very likely, sure
  3. placed under legal or moral restraint or obligation, obliged —often used in combination
  4. intending to go, going
  5. ready

Bound (noun)

  1. leap, jump
  2. the action of rebounding, bounce
  3. a limiting line, boundary —usually used in plural
  4. something that limits or restrains
  5. borderland

Bound (verb)

  1. to move by leaping
  2. rebound, bounce
  3. to form a separating line or the boundary of, enclose
  4. to set limits to, confine
  5. to name the boundaries of

Bound (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go

    "the language in the novel really is beyond the bounds of decency"

    similar: boundary, cap, ceiling, confines, end, extent, limit, limitation, line, termination
    related: extremity, fag end, terminus, border, brim, edge, margin, rim, verge, outside, bar, barrier, fence, hedge, restraint, stop, wall

  2. the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something

    "colored outside the bounds of the drawing"

    similar: border, borderline, boundary, brim, circumference, compass, confines, edge, edging, end, frame, fringe, hem, margin, perimeter, periphery, rim, skirt, skirting, verge
    related: ambit, brink, crest, curb, cusp, lip, ceiling, maximum, demarcation, extent, limitation, measure, mere, restriction, termination, borderland, frontier, march, outskirts, pale, selvage, lap, shore
    near: center, core, heart, inner, inside, interior, middle, within

  3. an act of leaping into the air

    "the kangaroo took one giant bound and was gone"

    similar: hop, jump, leap, spring, vault
    related: bounce, lope, skip, caper, capriole, gambado, gambol, attack, pounce, dive, pitch, plunge

Bound (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to mark the limits of

    "the country is bounded by water on two sides"

    similar: circumscribe, define, delimit, demarcate, demark, limit, mark (off), terminate
    related: control, determine, govern, delineate, describe

  2. to serve as a border for

    "being bounded on all sides by the Alps has helped Switzerland maintain its neutrality"

    similar: border, edge, frame, fringe, margin, rim, skirt
    related: hem, trim, circumscribe, define, delineate, demarcate, outline, silhouette, sketch, trace, circle, compass, encircle, enclose, environ, girdle, girth, loop, ring, round, surround, wall, check, confine, control, curb, limit, restrain, restrict

  3. to move with a light springing step

    "the child giggled and bounded off to play with her friends"

    similar: bounce, hop, lollop, lope, skip, trip
    related: caper, frisk, gambol, romp, skim, skitter, jump, leap, vault
    near: lumber, plod, trudge

  4. to propel oneself upward or forward into the air

    "a rabbit bounded down the garden path"

    similar: hop, jump, leap, spring, vault
    related: bounce, hurdle, leapfrog, lope, skip, buck, caper, capriole, cavort, frolic, gambol, romp, attack, pounce, shoot, skyrocket

Bound (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. fully committed to achieving a goal

    "I am bound and determined to write a novel before I turn 30"

    similar: bent (on or upon), decisive, determined, do-or-die, firm, hell-bent (on or upon), intent, out, purposeful, resolute, resolved, set, single-minded, on one's mettle
    related: bitter, vehement, certain, cocksure, confident, positive, sure, earnest, serious, steady, unfaltering, unhesitating, unswerving, unwavering, adamant, adamantine, dogged, hard, hardened, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inflexible, mulish, obdurate, persistent, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, rigid, self-willed, stubborn, tenacious, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful
    opposite: faltering, hesitant, indecisive, irresolute, undetermined, unresolved, vacillating, wavering, weak-kneed
    near: distrustful, doubtful, dubious, mistrustful, skeptical, suspicious, uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, unsettled, unsure, disinclined, indisposed, loath, reluctant

Related Entry: Bind (verb)

Bind is a different word from Bound. The synonyms below are for bind, not for bound.

  1. to confine or restrain with or as if with chains

    "prisons tend to bind convicted criminals for transport"

    similar: chain, enchain, enfetter, fetter, gyve, handcuff, manacle, pinion, shackle, trammel
    related: bit, hobble, hog-tie, iron, lash, secure, tie, truss, attach, fasten, join, link, confine, constrain, curb, hamper, hinder, impede, limit, restrict, entangle, tangle
    opposite: unbind, unfetter, unshackle
    near: emancipate, free, liberate, loose, release, rescue, undo, unfasten, untangle, untie, detach, disengage

  2. to cover with a bandage

    "bind the wound to stop the bleeding"

    similar: bandage, dress, swathe
    related: attend, care (for), doctor, medicate, minister (to), nurse, treat, cure, heal, mend, rehabilitate, remedy
    near: unbandage, uncover, unwrap

  3. to gather into a tight mass by means of a line or cord

    "bind the asparagus spears carefully before packing the bunches"

    similar: band, tie, truss
    related: cinch, cord, rope, strap, thread, wire, gird, girt, lash, leash, tether, interlace, intertwine, interweave, lace, entangle, knot, snarl, tangle, twist, coil, wind
    opposite: unbind, untie
    near: undo, unfasten, unlace, unlash, unloose, unloosen, unstrap, unstring, unthread, unleash, untether, disentangle, unravel, unsnarl, untangle, untwine, untwist, uncoil, unspool, unwind

Related Entry: Muscle-bound (adjective)

Muscle-bound is a different word from Bound. The synonyms below are for muscle-bound, not for bound.

  1. as in sinewy, muscular

    similar: able-bodied, athletic, herculean, mighty, muscular, powerful, robust, rugged, sinewy, stalwart, stout, strapping, strong, sturdy, beefy, brawny, burly, hefty, hulking, husky, mesomorphic, chunky, compact, heavy, heavyset, solid, squat, squatty, stocky, thickset, chubby, dumpy, lumpish, podgy (chiefly British), portly, pudgy, roly-poly, tubby
    opposite: lean, light, lightweight, slender, slight, slim, svelte, sylphlike, thin, willowy, bony, gangling, gangly, gaunt, gawky, lanky, reedy, scraggy, scrawny, skinny, spare, stringy, twiggy, waspish, weedy, spidery, wiry, debilitated, delicate, effete, emaciated, enervated, enfeebled, feeble, fragile, frail, infirm, puny, unathletic, weak, weakly, wimpy

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Bound

The most common words with a similar meaning to Bound:

boundary, cap, ceiling, confines, end, extent, limit, limitation, line, termination, border, borderline, brim, circumference, compass, edge, edging, frame, fringe, hem, margin, perimeter, periphery, rim, skirt, skirting, verge, hop, jump, leap, spring, vault, circumscribe, define, delimit, demarcate, demark, mark (off), terminate, bounce

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Bound

Words with the opposite meaning of Bound:

faltering, hesitant, indecisive, irresolute, undetermined, unresolved, vacillating, wavering, weak-kneed

Related Words for Bound

extremity, fag end, terminus, outside, bar, barrier, fence, hedge, restraint, stop, wall, ambit, brink, crest, curb, cusp, lip, maximum, demarcation, measure, mere, restriction, borderland, frontier, march, outskirts, pale, selvage, lap, shore

Near Antonyms of Bound

center, core, heart, inner, inside, interior, middle, within, lumber, plod, trudge, distrustful, doubtful, dubious, mistrustful, skeptical, suspicious, uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, unsettled, unsure, disinclined, indisposed, loath, reluctant

Word Forms of Bound

Inflections: bounds, bounded, bounding

Origin & Etymology of Bound

Middle English bounden, from past participle of binden to bind

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Bound

Words & Phrases Containing Bound

bound up, bound and determined

Frequently Asked Questions about Bound

What does "Bound" mean?

"Bound" means fastened by or as if by a band, confined —often used in combination. As an an adjective, a noun and a verb, it is defined as: fastened by or as if by a band, confined —often used in combination. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Bound"?

Other words for "Bound" include boundary, cap, ceiling, confines, end, extent, limit and limitation. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Bound" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Bound"?

There are 171 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Bound". Common alternatives include boundary, cap, ceiling, confines, end, extent, limit, limitation, line and termination.

What is the opposite of "Bound"?

Antonyms of "Bound" include faltering, hesitant, indecisive, irresolute, undetermined, unresolved, vacillating and wavering. Near antonyms include center, core, heart and inner.

How do you use "Bound" in a sentence?

Examples of "Bound" in a sentence: "the language in the novel really is beyond the bounds of decency"; "colored outside the bounds of the drawing"; "the kangaroo took one giant bound and was gone".

Is "Bound" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Bound" can be used as an adjective, a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Bound" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Bound" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Bound"?

"Bound" is pronounced /ˈbau̇nd/.