noun

boss

bos

noun

A person in charge of others at work, such as a manager, supervisor, or business owner.

"She asked her boss for the day off to attend the wedding."

"The new boss reorganized the whole department within a month."

In video games, a particularly difficult enemy that must be defeated to advance, often appearing at the end of a level.

"It took him five tries to beat the final boss."

A rounded lump or raised knob on a surface, such as a decorative stud or a natural rock outcrop.

"The ceiling was carved with ornamental bosses where the ribs met."

verb

To order someone around, especially repeatedly and without much regard for their opinion.

"Stop bossing your little brother around and let him choose the film."

adj

(informal) Excellent; first-rate.

"That was a boss meal, thanks for cooking."

How to Use Boss

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe person who is in charge — at work, in a game, or in general — or, as a verb, to order people around.

Common mistake

As a verb, "boss someone around" implies unwanted, repeated bossiness — not just giving normal instructions as a manager.

Common pairings

boss around be your own boss final boss boss someone about

Word Forms

bosser comparative, bossed past tense, bossed past tense, bosses plural, bosses plural, bosses plural, bosses singular, bosses singular, bossest superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She asked her _____ for the day off to attend the wedding.

Etymology

From Dutch baas ("master"), originally a respectful term for an older relative; it took on its modern sense of "person in charge" in colonial New Amsterdam (now New York).

Synonyms

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administrator chief director commander governor jefe head head man honcho higher-up leader manager

Antonyms

laborer subordinate worker

Related Words

head bureaucrat flower toilet secretary governor leader organizer

Rhymes for boss

oss loss toss foss joss moss doss Voss Ross goss Hoss cross

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administrator chief director commander governor jefe head head man honcho higher-up leader manager