adj

bound

BOWND

adj

Obliged to do something, often by law, duty, or promise.

"The company is bound by contract to deliver the goods on time."

Heading toward a particular place.

"The ferry is bound for Calais."

Certain or very likely to happen.

"With that much rain, flooding was bound to happen."

noun

A limit or boundary, often used in the plural.

"His behaviour was well within the bounds of the law."

verb

To leap or spring, moving forward in jumps.

"The dog bounded across the field to greet them."

How to Use Bound

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishObliged to do something, heading somewhere, certain to happen, or (as a noun) a limit; also, to leap.

Common pairings

bound to happen bound for out of bounds duty-bound

Word Forms

more bound comparative, bounded past tense, bounded past tense, bounds plural, bounds plural, bounds singular, bounds singular, most bound superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The company is _____ by contract to deliver the goods on time.

Etymology

From Middle English bound/bounden, the past participle of "bind" — something "bound" was originally something tied or fastened.

Antonyms

free

Related Words

free gratuitous independent liberate generous

Rhymes for bound

pound wound sound found round hound mound abound ground around rebound impound

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