bid farewell

Meaning

To 'bid farewell' means to say goodbye to someone or something, often in a formal, literary, or final manner. It is typically used in writing, speeches, or when marking a significant departure or the end of an era. The tone is often poignant, respectful, or slightly nostalgic.

Examples

• As the sun set over the harbor, we stood on the deck to bid farewell to our homeland.

  As the sun set over the harbor, we stood on the deck to bid farewell to our homeland.

• The retiring CEO delivered a moving speech to bid farewell to her dedicated staff.

  The retiring CEO delivered a moving speech to bid farewell to her dedicated staff.

• After a wonderful decade in Paris, it was finally time for them to bid farewell to the city.

  After a wonderful decade in Paris, it was finally time for them to bid farewell to the city.

• She chose to bid farewell to her old habits and start a healthier lifestyle in the new year.

  She chose to bid farewell to her old habits and start a healthier lifestyle in the new year.

• We must bid farewell to these outdated policies if we want our company to progress.

  We must bid farewell to these outdated policies if we want our company to progress.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He bid farewell with his colleagues before leaving the office.

  ✓ He bid farewell to his colleagues before leaving the office.

  The preposition used with 'bid farewell' is 'to', not 'with'. Alternatively, you can place the person directly after 'bid' as in 'He bid his colleagues farewell.'

• ✗ She bidded farewell to her childhood home with a heavy heart.

  ✓ She bade farewell to her childhood home with a heavy heart.

  'Bid' is an irregular verb. In formal or literary contexts, the past tense is 'bade' (pronounced /bæd/ or /beɪd/), though 'bid' is also accepted as a past tense form. 'Bidded' is incorrect in this context.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The graduating class gathered in the auditorium to ___ to their teachers.

  💡 Use the formal phrase meaning to say goodbye.

  Show answer

  bid farewell

• It is never easy to ___ to a place you have called home for so many years.

  💡 This phrase is often used when leaving a beloved place.

  Show answer

  bid farewell

• Before embarking on his long journey, he stopped to ___ to his family.

  💡 To say a final or formal goodbye.

  Show answer

  bid farewell