bold
gb/bˈoʊld/ us/bˈoʊld/
A2
English
~ 4000
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Not afraid and confident
Not afraid to do something difficult or dangerous.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is bold
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'bold' with 'brave' in all contexts, but 'bold' can also describe style or appearance, not just courage.
Synonyms
brave (Implies courage in the face of danger, often with moral strength.)
|
daring (Suggests willingness to take bold risks, sometimes recklessly.)
Antonyms
timid (Lacking courage or confidence; easily frightened.)
Collocations
bold decision
|bold move
|bold step
|bold plan
Themes
emotions
|personality
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She made a bold decision to start her own company.
- The artist's bold style attracted attention.
- It was a bold move to question the manager in front of everyone.
- He made a bold attempt to climb the mountain alone.
- The politician took a bold stand on climate change.
Learner examples
- She is bold and speaks her mind.
- It was a bold idea to travel alone.
- He made a bold choice to quit his job.
- The bold man helped the woman.
- They took a bold step forward.
adjective
A2
property
2
Strong and noticeable in style
Easy to see because it is strong or bright in color or design.
Usage pattern:
[something] is bold
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'bold' here with 'brave', but in this sense it refers to visual impact, not courage.
Synonyms
striking (Attracts attention because it is unusual or impressive.)
|
vivid (Bright and intense in color.)
Antonyms
subtle (Not obvious; delicate or understated in style or appearance.)
Collocations
bold colors
|bold pattern
|bold design
|bold typography
Themes
art
|fashion
|design
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The living room features bold colors and modern furniture.
- She wore a bold red dress to the party.
- The painting's bold brushstrokes caught my eye.
- The logo uses bold typography for impact.
- Bold patterns are popular this season.
Learner examples
- The sign has bold letters.
- He painted the wall a bold blue.
- She likes bold patterns on her clothes.
- The book cover has bold colors.
- That is a bold design for a car.
adjective
A2
property
3
Thick dark printed text
Printed in dark, thick letters so it is easy to see.
Usage pattern:
[something] is in bold
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'bold' here with 'capital letters', but they are different text styles.
Synonyms
heavy type (Technical term for thick printed letters.)
Antonyms
regular type (Standard non-bold font weight.)
Collocations
in bold type
|bold font
|bold heading
Themes
writing
|printing
|technology
|communication
Examples
- Important terms are shown in bold type.
- The headings are printed in bold for clarity.
- Please put your name in bold on the form.
- The title appears in bold at the top of the page.
Learner examples
- Write your name in bold.
- This word is in bold.
- The title is in bold letters.
- I see bold text on the screen.
Grammar
Dictionary form
bold
IPA
GB/bˈoʊld/
US/bˈoʊld/
Syllables & stress
bold (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (bold)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: bold
- Comparative: bolder
- Superlative: boldest
Word family
Expressions
as bold as brass
1/ˈæz bˈoʊld ˈæz bɹˈæs/
idiom
informal
Very confident and shameless
To behave in a very confident way without showing fear or shame.
Examples
- He walked into the meeting late, as bold as brass.
- She told him off as bold as brass.
in bold
1/ˈɪn bˈoʊld/
fixed phrase
Printed in thick dark letters
Printed in dark, thick letters so it is easy to see.
Examples
- Please print the title in bold.
- Words in bold are important.
make a bold move
1/mˈeɪk ə bˈoʊld mˈuv/
fixed phrase
Take a brave or risky action
To do something that is brave or risky.
Examples
- She made a bold move by quitting her job without another offer.
- Investing all his savings was a bold move.