noun

bail

bayl

noun

A sum of money paid to secure someone's release from custody while they await trial.

"The judge set bail at ten thousand dollars."

"His family scraped together enough to post bail."

verb

To scoop water out of a boat.

"They took turns bailing out the leaking dinghy."

To leave abruptly or back out of a plan.

"He was supposed to come to the party but bailed at the last minute."

How to Use Bail

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost often refers to money paid for someone's release from jail, or the informal sense of ditching a plan or scooping water from a boat.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "bale," a bundled pack of hay or cotton — they sound identical but are unrelated words.

Easily confused with

bale →

Common pairings

post bail out on bail bail someone out bail on plans

Word Forms

bailed past tense, bailed past tense, bailed past tense, bailed past tense, bails plural, bails plural, Bails plural, bails singular, bails singular, bails singular, bails singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “bail” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The judge set _____ at ten thousand dollars.

Etymology

From Old French bail ("custody, lease") and the verb bailler ("to hand over"), from Latin baiulare ("to carry or bear").

Rhymes for bail

rail tail pail mail nail sail fail hail jail vail wail quail

See all rhymes for bail →