bound

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'bound' is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used as a verb (to tie or fasten something securely), or as an adjective (confined or restricted by limits). Example sentence: The prisoner was bound in chains and could not escape.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's bound to happen.

The New York Times

Maybe since visual effects is a younger industry, it's competitive and not bound by... prejudices".

The Guardian - Film

When you hear the words "pasta salad", it's hard not to think of those little tubs at the supermarket, bound in a mayonnaise-like substance, the pasta overcooked and chilled to a tasteless mush.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Spitting is universally recognised as perhaps the ultimate degradation and it's bound to result in rather aggressive retaliation," mused the consultant psychologist Dr Aric Sigman years later, in some nostalgia-based clip show or other.

The Guardian - Sport

This is an odyssey in the originalsense of the word – protracted, circuitous, not necessarily bound to end.

The Guardian

"On 4 November 2010, I signed a contract which bound me to the club until 2012 with a probationary period of three months.

The Guardian - Sport

Some are bound up with the tensions and ambivalences of the IT age.

The Guardian - Opinion

In football, this kind of ownership is achieved by supporting a team; its history becomes bound up with personal history, done and done.

The Guardian - Sport

The intricate narrative manifests how the fates of the characters are bound together and how Havaa comes to symbolise all that is good in a chaotic world.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Thousands of London-bound commuters have been left stranded on held-up trains for up to four hours after a power supply problem caused chaos at Clapham Junction, the UK's busiest rail station.

The Guardian

While it is easy to see why a book like this would receive such intense interest from economists, who are engineered to concern themselves with questions like these, it is, perhaps, more difficult to understand how Capital became a book that would top the summer reading lists of thousands of beach-bound, working class adults.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "bound" in the sense of obligation, ensure the context clearly indicates the source of the obligation, whether it's legal, moral, or contractual.

Common error

Avoid using "bound" interchangeably between its senses (e.g., obligation vs. physical restraint). Use the correct preposition (e.g., "bound to" for obligation, "bound by" for constraints).

Linguistic Context

The term "bound" functions as both a verb and an adjective. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage spans from describing obligations to physical restrictions, reflecting its versatile nature in sentence construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bound" is a versatile term functioning as both a verb and an adjective. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness in written English, highlighting its varied applications from indicating obligations to describing physical states. Primarily found in News & Media contexts, its usage spans diverse scenarios, warranting careful attention to contextual nuances to ensure accurate interpretation. Proper understanding is important due to common errors like misunderstanding its different meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obligated

Indicates a sense of duty or legal requirement, emphasizing a formal constraint.

destined

Implies a predetermined future or outcome, focusing on inevitability.

certain

Suggests a high degree of probability or assurance, highlighting confidence in an event.

required

Denotes a necessity or obligation, stressing the need for something.

constrained

Highlights limitations or restrictions imposed on someone or something.

tied

Indicates a connection or dependency, emphasizing a close relationship.

restricted

Focuses on limiting access or freedom, stressing boundaries.

fated

Implies a destiny or predetermined course, often with a sense of solemnity.

compelled

Suggests being forced or driven to do something, highlighting external pressure.

liable

Indicates a potential or probability of something happening, often negative.

FAQs

How to use "bound" in a sentence?

The word "bound" can be used in several ways. For example: "They are "bound to" succeed", "The book was leather "bound in leather"", or "The ship is "bound for England"".

What can I say instead of "bound" (obligated)?

You can use alternatives like "obligated", "required", or "compelled" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "bound to" and "likely to"?

"Bound to" suggests a stronger sense of inevitability or certainty than "likely to". "Bound to" implies a constraint or condition that makes the outcome almost guaranteed, while "likely to" simply indicates a high probability.

Which is correct, "bound to do" or "bound to doing"?

"Bound to do" is the correct form. The phrase "bound to" is followed by the base form of the verb (e.g., "He is "bound to succeed"").