HOW TO PRONOUNCE
bully
/ˈbʊli/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:57
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What does bully mean?
noun
- A person who is intentionally physically or emotionally cruel to others, especially to those whom they perceive as being vulnerable or of less power or privilege.
- A noisy, blustering, tyrannical person, more insolent than courageous; one who is threatening and quarrelsome.
- A hired thug.
More meanings (15)
noun
- A sex worker's minder.
- Bully beef.
- The small scrum in the Eton College field game.
- Any of various small freshwater or brackishwater fish of the family Eleotridae; sleeper gobies.
- A companion; mate (male or female).
- A standoff between two players from the opposing teams, who repeatedly hit each other's hockey sticks and then attempt to acquire the ball, as a method of resuming the game in certain circumstances.
- A miner's hammer.
- (obsolete) A brisk, dashing fellow.
- (obsolete) An (eldest) brother; a fellow workman; comrade
- (obsolete) A darling, sweetheart (male or female).
verb
- To intimidate (someone) as a bully.
- To act aggressively towards.
interjection
- Well done; often sarcastic in modern use.
adjective
- (dated, slang) Very good.
- (obsolete, slang) Jovial and blustering.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈbʊli/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
“I didn’t drop in to bully you this afternoon. I came to coax you to go out for tea with me somewhere.”
Williamson, the ex-clergyman, bowed to us with mock politeness, and the bully, Woodley, advanced with a shout of brutal and exultant laughter.
More book examples (3)
It's bully in a high-toned joint to eat and drink your fill, But it's quite another matter when you Pay the bill.
In fact, his conduct approached that of a bully, and he was given to swaggering up and down before Spitz’s very nose.
Flying savagely at one and then at the other, and almost drowning their voices with his own harsh cries, was Bully himself.