say goodbye

To use words or a gesture to wish someone well when you or they leave.

• Say goodbye to your friends.
• We said goodbye and went home.
• Did you say goodbye to Grandma before leaving?

How to use it: say goodbye to someone (I said goodbye to my sister at the station.)

Similar words: say farewell, bid farewell

Opposites: say hello

Common phrases: say goodbye politely, say goodbye now, say goodbye properly

To stop having something or stop needing to do something.

• Say goodbye to long waits.
• After that repair bill, we said goodbye to our savings.
• This new bus route lets us say goodbye to expensive taxis.

How to use it: say goodbye to something (With this dishwasher, you can say goodbye to washing dishes by hand.)

Similar words: lose, be rid of

Common phrases: say goodbye forever, say goodbye permanently

To leave someone or something behind, or end a relationship.

• We knew it was time to say goodbye.
• He said goodbye to his hometown and moved abroad.
• After years together, they finally said goodbye.

How to use it: say goodbye to someone/something (She decided to say goodbye to her old life.)

Similar words: part ways, leave, separate

Opposites: reunite

Common phrases: say goodbye forever, say goodbye finally