boldly
gb/bˈoʊldli/ us/bˈoʊldli/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B2
property
1
in a brave, confident way
If you do something boldly, you do it bravely and with confidence.
Usage pattern:
[someone] [does something] boldly
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use the adjective *bold* instead of the adverb (*He spoke bold* → *He spoke boldly*).
Synonyms
bravely (Emphasizes facing danger or fear.)
|
confidently (Emphasizes self-assurance more than risk.)
Antonyms
timidly (Shows a lack of confidence or courage.)
|
cautiously (Avoids risk rather than embracing it.)
Collocations
speak boldly
|act boldly
|step boldly
|move boldly
|boldly declare
|boldly claim
|boldly venture
|boldly face
|boldly challenge
|boldly defend
Themes
emotions
|communication
|personal_development
Examples
- She boldly challenged the decision in front of the whole team.
- He walked boldly onto the stage and began his speech.
- They boldly invested in the new idea when others were unsure.
Learner examples
- She spoke boldly in the meeting.
- He boldly tried something new.
adverb
B2
property
2
in a striking, noticeable way
If something is done boldly, it looks very strong and easy to see.
Usage pattern:
[something] is boldly [colored/designed/lit/outlined]
Common mistake:
In typography, learners may say *boldly* when they mean *in bold* (e.g., *Write your name boldly* → often *Write your name in bold*).
Synonyms
vividly (Often focuses on bright color or clear mental images.)
|
conspicuously (Emphasizes being easily noticed, sometimes undesirably.)
Antonyms
subtly (Uses gentle, not obvious effects.)
|
faintly (Is light or hard to see.)
Collocations
boldly colored
|boldly patterned
|boldly designed
|boldly outlined
|boldly printed
|boldly labeled
|boldly highlighted
|boldly contrasted
|boldly graphic
|boldly lit
Themes
art_design
|media
|writing
Examples
- The logo is boldly printed on the front of the bag.
- She chose a dress with boldly patterned fabric.
- The headline was boldly displayed at the top of the page.
Learner examples
- The sign is boldly written.
- The room is boldly painted.
adverb
C1
property
3
in a shameless or rude way
If someone does something boldly in this sense, they do it in a rude or shameless way.
Usage pattern:
[someone] [does something] boldly
Common mistake:
This negative sense is less common; in many contexts *boldly* is positive (brave/confident), so check the tone.
Synonyms
brazenly (Strongly suggests shamelessness.)
|
impudently (More formal; stresses disrespect.)
Antonyms
respectfully (Shows politeness and consideration.)
|
modestly (Avoids attention and overconfidence.)
Collocations
stare boldly
|lie boldly
|boldly ignore
|boldly refuse
|boldly demand
|boldly interrupt
|boldly flirt
|boldly walk in
|boldly accuse
|boldly criticize
Themes
social_interaction
|behavior
|emotions
Examples
- He boldly lied to their faces and expected to be believed.
- She boldly pushed past the line as if the rules did not apply to her.
- The man stared boldly, making her uncomfortable.
Learner examples
- He spoke boldly, but it sounded rude.
Grammar
Dictionary form
boldly
IPA
GB/bˈoʊldli/
US/bˈoʊldli/
Syllables & stress
boldly (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (boldly)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: boldly
- Plural: boldlies
Word family
Expressions
to boldly go where no one has gone before
1/tə bˈoʊldli ɡˈoʊ wˈɛɹ nˈoʊ wˈʌn hˈæz ɡˈɔn bɪfˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
to explore new, unknown territory
To do something new that nobody has done before.
Examples
- With this experiment, the team is boldly going where no one has gone before.
- She left a safe job to boldly go where no one had gone before in her field.
- The startup claims it will boldly go where no competitor has gone before.
to put it boldly
1/tə pˈʊt ˈɪt bˈoʊldli/
fixed phrase
to say something very directly
Used before a strong, direct statement.
Examples
- To put it boldly, the plan is failing and we need a new one.
- To put it boldly, you were treated unfairly.
- To put it boldly, this product is not ready for sale.