bold

bold — adjective

1. ready to face danger, pain, or a hard situation without backing away.

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

ready to face danger, pain, or a hard situation without backing away.

Example

Ravi made a bold jump into the river to save the child.

bold + noun for risky action

It was bold of Leila to question the corrupt mayor in public.

it is bold of + person + to-infinitive

Common collocations
  • bold move
  • bold decision
  • bold step
  • bold attempt
  • bold choice
Synonyms
  • brave

    the closest everyday word; slightly broader and more neutral

  • courageous

    more formal and often used for serious danger or moral strength

  • daring

    stresses willingness to take unusual or risky action

Antonyms
  • timid

    suggests a lack of confidence or courage

  • fearful

    emphasizes feeling afraid rather than acting strongly

Grammar Patterns

it is bold of + [person] + to-infinitive

Usage Note

Often describes actions, plans, or decisions that involve real risk. Distinguish from adjective/4 TOO FORWARD, which often suggests criticism for disrespectful behaviour.

Common Mistakes

Nadia was bold to speak to the class politely.
Nadia was brave to speak to the class politely.
this sense praises courage in a difficult moment, not simple confidence in normal speaking.

2. easy to notice because the colour, pattern, or shape is strong and clear.

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

easy to notice because the colour, pattern, or shape is strong and clear.

Example

The artist chose bold orange walls for the small coffee shop.

bold + colour

A bold black line circles the island on the classroom map.

bold + line / shape

Common collocations
  • bold color
  • bold pattern
  • bold design
  • bold line
  • bold print
Synonyms
  • striking

    emphasizes a strong visual effect

  • vivid

    especially used for bright colours

  • eye-catching

    everyday phrase for something that pulls attention

Antonyms
  • subtle

    not immediately obvious or strong

  • pale

    used when colour lacks strength

Usage Note

Usually used for colours, patterns, lines, or design features that draw the eye quickly. Distinguish from adjective/3 THICK LETTERS, which is only about typography.

3. shown in a heavier, darker letter style than the words around it.

3.adjectiveB1
Definition

shown in a heavier, darker letter style than the words around it.

Example

The warning at the top of the form is in bold.

phrase: in bold

Jin printed the report title in bold on the first page.

print + [text] in bold

Common collocations
  • bold text
  • bold letters
  • bold type
  • bold heading
  • in bold
Synonyms
  • boldface

    technical typography term for the same style

  • heavy

    used in design and printing for a thicker letter weight

Antonyms
  • regular

    the normal text weight in a font family

  • plain

    not shown in a special style

Grammar Patterns

in bold

Usage Note

Normally appears after verbs such as print, show, or write in the pattern 'in bold'. For the action of changing text to this style, use verb/1 MAKE BOLD.

4. so confident and direct that it seems rude or lacking respect.

4.adjectiveB2
Definition

so confident and direct that it seems rude or lacking respect.

Example

The intern was bold enough to call the director lazy in public.

bold enough to + verb

Yusuf gave the judge a bold answer and upset the whole court.

bold + answer / remark

Common collocations
  • bold remark
  • bold answer
  • bold question
  • grow bold
Synonyms
  • cheeky

    slightly informal; can sound playful as well as rude

  • impudent

    formal and strongly critical

  • forward

    traditional word for being too confident socially

Antonyms
  • respectful

    showing proper politeness

  • shy

    hesitant in social situations rather than overconfident

Grammar Patterns

bold enough to + verb

Usage Note

Often used for remarks, questions, or behaviour toward someone with more authority. Unlike adjective/1 BRAVE, this sense often sounds critical rather than admiring.

Common Mistakes

Olu made a bold comment to insult his coach.
Olu made a rude comment to insult his coach.
this sense suggests overconfident behaviour, not simple meanness by itself.
Idioms

be/make so bold (as to do something)

idiom

Used to politely say something that might be a little rude or critical.

If I may be so bold, your report contains a few errors.

Maya made so bold as to tell the manager his plan was flawed.

(as) bold as brass

idiom

Behaving in a very confident way that shows no respect or fear.

The intern walked in bold as brass and took the CEO's chair.

Diego, bold as brass, asked for a refund without a receipt.

bold — verb

bold — noun

Word family

  • boldly
    adverbB2
  • boldness
    nounC1
  • embolden
    verbC1
  • boldface
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Bold' often suggests action: someone does something that carries real risk, pressure, or possible criticism. 'Brave' is the broad everyday word for meeting fear well, whether the act is quiet or dramatic. 'Courageous' is more formal and often fits serious danger, moral strength, or long hardship. 'Daring' puts extra focus on how unusual, risky, or exciting the act is. 'Fearless' is the strongest word and can suggest almost no fear at all, sometimes more than the facts really show. So a firefighter entering smoke is brave or courageous, a student challenging a powerful speaker can be bold, and a skateboard jump over a stair rail is daring. You might say, 'Leila made a bold decision to report the fraud,' but 'The nurses were courageous through months of war.'

bold ↗brave ↗courageous ↗daring ↗fearless ↗

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

English 'bold' comes from Old English 'beald', a word for someone brave, confident, or strong in spirit. That older form goes back to a Proto-Germanic root also seen in related Germanic languages. The core idea was not softness or caution, but firmness and readiness to act. Later, English extended that idea from people and behaviour to things that stand out strongly, such as bright designs and thick lettering, which is how the modern visual and typography senses developed.