bound
B2Formal & Informal
Definition
Meaning
to leap or spring; to be constrained by limits or an obligation; moving towards a destination.
As a verb: to move with leaping steps; to form a border or boundary. As an adjective: certain or destined to do something; travelling towards a specific place; restricted or confined.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has distinct, separate meanings (homonym/homograph) stemming from different etymologies: the leap/jump sense (from Old Norse), the boundary sense (from Old French), and the obliged/destined sense (from Middle English). Context is essential for disambiguation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slight differences in frequency for specific collocations (e.g., 'leap and bound' vs. 'by leaps and bounds'). The participle 'bounden' (as in 'bounden duty') is archaic but slightly more likely in UK legal/formal contexts.
Connotations
In both, 'bound' can imply a strong sense of inevitability or obligation. 'Outward bound' as an outdoor education concept originated in the UK.
Frequency
The 'destined for' sense (e.g., 'homeward-bound') is equally common. The verb 'to bound' (leap) is more frequent in literary contexts in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be bound to (infinitive)be bound for (place)be bound by (rule/law)bound across/over (surface)bound from (place) to (place)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “by leaps and bounds”
- “out of bounds”
- “bounds of possibility”
- “I'll be bound (archaic)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The company is bound by the terms of the contract." (obligated)
Academic
"The study's conclusions are bound by its methodological limitations." (constrained)
Everyday
"She's bound to call soon—she promised." (certain)
Technical
"The electron is bound to the nucleus." (physically constrained)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The deer bounded over the fence and into the woods.
- The county is bounded by the river to the east.
American English
- The dog bounded across the yard to greet her.
- Their property is bounded by a stone wall.
adverb
British English
- Northward bound traffic is heavy.
American English
- Eastbound lanes are closed.
adjective
British English
- You are legally bound to disclose that information.
- The train is bound for Edinburgh.
American English
- She's bound to win with that kind of talent.
- The ship is homeward bound.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The ball bounced and bounded down the hill.
- We are bound by the rules.
- I feel bound to tell you the truth.
- Is this bus bound for the city centre?
- His enthusiasm knows no bounds.
- The agreement is legally binding; we are bound to comply.
- The novel's themes are inextricably bound up with the author's own childhood experiences.
- The company's growth has proceeded by leaps and bounds.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a dog with its legs TIED (bound) by a rope, but it's so excited to go HOME (homeward-bound) that it JUMPS (bound) up and down.
Conceptual Metaphor
OBLIGATION IS BEING TIED (bound by a promise); CERTAINTY/DESTINY IS A FORCEFUL PATH (bound for glory); PROGRESS IS UPWARD MOTION (grow by leaps and bounds).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusing 'bound' (adjective) with 'bond' (noun/verb).
- Mistranslating 'bound to' as просто 'обязан' instead of the more predictive 'несомненно, наверняка' (It's bound to rain).
- Overlooking the 'jump/leap' meaning of the verb 'to bound'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'bound to' for personal intentions (e.g., 'I'm bound to go' meaning 'I intend to go' is incorrect).
- Confusing 'bound' (past tense of bind) with 'bounded' (past tense of bound meaning 'leap' or 'set limits').
- Misspelling as 'bonded'.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The project is bound to succeed,' what does 'bound' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Bound' is the past tense of 'bind' (tie) and an adjective. 'Bounded' is the past tense of the verb 'bound' meaning to leap or to form a boundary (e.g., 'The dog bounded away'; 'The state is bounded by mountains').
Not exactly. 'Have to' expresses obligation from rules or necessity. 'Bound to' expresses a high probability or certainty based on circumstances ('It's bound to rain'), or a moral/legal obligation when used with 'be' + 'bound' + 'to' + infinitive ('I am bound to help').
It is related to limits/boundaries. 'Out of bounds' means outside the permitted area or limits. The jumping sense does not have a plural noun form used in this way.
Use 'bound for' to indicate a destination. The structure is typically: 'be' + 'bound for' + [place]. Example: 'This flight is bound for Tokyo.' It suggests being on the way or destined for that place.