bully
To bully someone is to act meanly or aggressively toward them to get your own way.
Explanation at your level:
To bully means to be bad to someone. You use your strength to make them do what you want. It is not nice. Do not bully your friends. Be kind to everyone at school.
When you bully someone, you act in a mean way. You might say mean things or push them. This is wrong because it makes the other person feel sad or scared. We should always try to stop bullying when we see it happening.
To bully someone is to use your power to intimidate them. This often happens repeatedly. For example, a student might bully a classmate to get their lunch money. It creates an unfair situation where one person feels they have no choice but to listen to the bully.
The verb bully describes a pattern of behavior where an individual uses their influence or strength to coerce others. This often involves an imbalance of power, making it difficult for the victim to defend themselves. It is a serious issue in workplaces and schools, often requiring intervention from authorities.
To bully is to exert undue pressure or aggression to manipulate outcomes. Beyond physical intimidation, it encompasses psychological warfare, such as social exclusion or verbal abuse, designed to undermine a person's confidence. In academic and professional settings, it is recognized as a toxic behavior that destroys morale and creates a hostile environment.
Etymologically, bully has undergone a fascinating semantic shift from a term of endearment to a descriptor of tyranny. In contemporary usage, it signifies the deliberate exploitation of power dynamics to subjugate others. Whether manifested as workplace harassment or systemic coercion, the act of bullying is fundamentally an abuse of agency. Recognizing and deconstructing these power imbalances is essential for fostering equitable social structures.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Bully means to intimidate.
- It involves an imbalance of power.
- It is often repeated behavior.
- It is a serious, negative term.
When you hear the word bully, you probably think of someone being mean on a playground. As a verb, it describes the act of using your power, size, or influence to push someone else around.
It is not just about one bad day; it usually implies a pattern of aggressive behavior. Whether it is a boss intimidating an employee or a student picking on a peer, the core of bullying is the imbalance of power. The person doing the bullying wants to force the other person to do something or simply make them feel small.
The history of bully is actually quite surprising! In the 16th century, the word didn't mean a mean person at all. It was actually a term of endearment, like 'sweetheart' or 'darling,' coming from the Middle Dutch word boele, meaning 'lover.'
Over time, the meaning shifted drastically. By the 17th century, it began to refer to a 'fine fellow' or a 'blusterer,' and eventually, it evolved into the modern sense of a cowardly tyrant who picks on those weaker than themselves. It is a classic example of a word's definition doing a complete 180-degree turn over a few hundred years.
You will most often hear bully used in social or professional contexts. It is a strong, negative word that carries a lot of weight. You might say, 'Don't let them bully you into making a bad decision.'
It is frequently used with prepositions like 'into' to describe the result of the intimidation. While it is common in casual conversation, it is also a serious term used in HR policies and school handbooks to describe unacceptable conduct.
While 'bully' itself isn't always in an idiom, it appears in phrases like bully pulpit, which refers to a public office that provides its occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue. Another is bully for you, which is an old-fashioned, sarcastic way of saying 'good for you.' We also use cyberbully to describe modern digital harassment.
As a regular verb, the past tense is bullied and the present participle is bullying. It follows standard English rules. In terms of pronunciation, it is /ˈbʊli/ in both British and American English, rhyming with 'fully' or 'gully.'
The stress is always on the first syllable. It is a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object—you don't just 'bully,' you 'bully someone.' Keep that in mind when building your sentences!
Fun Fact
It went from a term of affection to a term of abuse.
Pronunciation Guide
Short 'u' sound like in 'put'.
Same as UK, clear 'b' and 'l'.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'bull' + 'y'
- Adding an extra syllable
- Misplacing the stress
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to understand.
Simple to use.
Commonly used.
Easy to hear.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Transitive Verbs
He bullies me.
Passive Voice
I was bullied.
Gerunds
Bullying is wrong.
Examples by Level
Do not bully your friends.
Do not be mean.
Imperative form.
He is a bully.
He is mean.
Noun usage.
She does not bully.
She is nice.
Negative verb.
Bullying is bad.
It is wrong.
Gerund subject.
They bully me.
They are mean to me.
Simple present.
Stop the bully!
Make it end.
Imperative.
We help people.
We are kind.
Contrast.
Be a friend.
Be nice.
Positive command.
Don't let them bully you.
He was bullied at school.
Why do you bully him?
Bullying makes people sad.
The older kids bullied the younger ones.
She stood up to the bully.
It is wrong to bully others.
They stopped bullying the boy.
He felt bullied by his boss.
They were bullied into signing the contract.
Cyberbullying is a growing problem.
She refused to be bullied.
The company has a no-bullying policy.
He bullied his way to the top.
Don't be bullied by peer pressure.
They were bullied for their beliefs.
The manager was accused of bullying staff.
She was bullied into silence by her colleagues.
It takes courage to stand up to a bully.
The school implemented a strict anti-bullying program.
He used his status to bully others.
They were bullied by the system.
She felt bullied by the aggressive questioning.
Bullying behavior is often a sign of insecurity.
The politician bullied his opponents into submission.
She was bullied by the relentless demands of her job.
Systemic bullying can lead to workplace burnout.
He was bullied by the sheer weight of public opinion.
The coach bullied the players to perform better.
She felt bullied by the intense social expectations.
They were bullied by the harsh reality of the market.
Bullying is an insidious form of manipulation.
The regime bullied its citizens into compliance.
He bullied his way through the negotiations.
The subtle art of bullying involves psychological coercion.
She was bullied by the weight of her own expectations.
The corporate culture was rife with institutional bullying.
He bullied the witnesses to change their testimony.
The bullies were eventually held accountable.
Her resilience prevented her from being bullied.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"bully pulpit"
A position of authority that allows one to influence public opinion.
The President uses the bully pulpit to push for change.
formal"bully for you"
An exclamation of approval (often sarcastic).
So you finally finished your homework? Bully for you!
informal"push around"
To bully or treat someone roughly.
Don't let anyone push you around.
casual"pick on"
To choose someone to bully.
Why do you always pick on your brother?
casual"throw weight around"
To use one's influence to bully others.
He loves to throw his weight around the office.
idiomaticEasily Confused
similar spelling
bull is an animal
The bull ran in the field.
similar spelling
bully is a person
He is a bully.
similar meaning
intimidate is more formal
He intimidated the team.
similar meaning
harass implies persistence
Stop harassing me.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + bully + object
He bullies his peers.
Subject + be + bullied + by + agent
She was bullied by him.
Subject + bully + object + into + gerund
They bullied him into leaving.
Subject + refuse + to + be + bullied
I refuse to be bullied.
Subject + use + power + to + bully
He uses his power to bully.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
Formality Scale
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a bull pushing someone.
When Native Speakers Use It
In serious discussions.
Cultural Insight
Zero-tolerance policies.
Grammar Shortcut
It is a transitive verb.
Say It Right
Keep the 'u' short.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't confuse it with 'bull'.
Did You Know?
It used to mean sweetheart!
Study Smart
Use it in a sentence about boundaries.
Writing Tip
Be specific about the behavior.
Speaking Tip
Use a serious tone.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
B-U-L-L-Y: Being Unkind Leads to Lonesome Years.
Visual Association
A large person pushing a smaller person on a playground.
Word Web
Challenge
Write a story about standing up to a bully.
Word Origin
Middle Dutch
Original meaning: Lover or sweetheart
Cultural Context
Extremely negative; avoid using lightly.
Highly sensitive topic in schools and workplaces.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at school
- stop the bullying
- tell a teacher
- bully on the playground
at work
- workplace bully
- report harassment
- hostile environment
online
- cyberbullying
- block the user
- report the post
legal
- anti-bullying laws
- harassment policy
- legal action
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever stood up to a bully?"
"What should schools do about bullying?"
"Is cyberbullying worse than physical bullying?"
"How can we teach kids to be kind?"
"Why do you think people become bullies?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you saw someone being treated unfairly.
How does it feel to be bullied?
What are the qualities of a good friend?
How can we create a kinder community?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsYes, it describes negative behavior.
Usually, we use 'aggressive' for animals.
Bullying using digital devices.
Tell an adult or authority figure.
It can be, depending on the severity.
Yes, with proper guidance.
Only if they are actually engaging in the behavior.
An advocate or protector.
Test Yourself
The ___ is being mean to the small boy.
The bully is the one being mean.
What does it mean to bully someone?
Bullying is intentional mean behavior.
A bully is usually someone who feels powerful.
Bullies often use power to intimidate.
Word
Meaning
Synonyms and antonyms.
He was bullied at school.
Score: /5
Summary
Bullying is the misuse of power to harm others, and it is never acceptable.
- Bully means to intimidate.
- It involves an imbalance of power.
- It is often repeated behavior.
- It is a serious, negative term.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a bull pushing someone.
When Native Speakers Use It
In serious discussions.
Cultural Insight
Zero-tolerance policies.
Grammar Shortcut
It is a transitive verb.
Example
He tried to bully his younger brother into doing his chores for him.
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