said our goodbyes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "said our goodbyes" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe the act of bidding farewell to someone. Example: After spending a lovely evening with our friends, we all said our goodbyes and promised to get together again soon.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Then we said our goodbyes.

The Guardian - Arts

We had all said our goodbyes.

The Washington Post

Nope, we said our goodbyes outside the restaurant.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We said our goodbyes as the rainclouds finally burst forth.

The New Yorker

So we piled into their HiLux and said our goodbyes.

The New Yorker

We said our goodbyes in my room and we embraced.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

We say our goodbyes.

The Economist

Meanwhile, back in Iraq, we will be saying our goodbyes.

The New Yorker

We say our goodbyes, get in the car and go.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Saturday, Nov. 5 After saying our goodbyes we were back on the plane, headed for Newark.

Princeton University

So after a celebratory dinner, it was time to say our goodbyes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "said our goodbyes" when you want to clearly and directly express that a farewell was exchanged. It's suitable for most contexts, from informal to moderately formal.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses, such as "say our goodbyes" when referring to a past event. Ensure the verb tense aligns with the timeframe of your narrative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "said our goodbyes" functions as a declarative statement describing a completed action of bidding farewell. It clearly indicates that a parting exchange occurred, as seen in Ludwig's examples, and provides a concise way to convey this information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

7%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "said our goodbyes" is a grammatically sound and very common phrase used to describe the act of bidding farewell. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and prevalence in written English. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts and is generally considered to be of neutral register, suitable for a wide range of communication needs. When writing, ensure the tense is consistent with the narrative and consider using related phrases like "bade farewell" or "parted ways" for alternative phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

said goodbye

Slightly less formal and more direct.

waved goodbye

Adds the physical action of waving.

bade farewell

More formal and slightly archaic.

parted ways

Focuses on the act of separating, without explicitly mentioning goodbyes.

expressed farewells

Highlights the expression of parting wishes.

took our leave

Formal way of saying goodbye, focusing on the act of departure.

took leave

Emphasizes the act of departing or excusing oneself.

wished farewell

Emphasizes the act of wishing someone well upon departure.

left each other

Neutral way of describing the action of separating from someone.

saw off

Focuses on the act of accompanying someone to their point of departure.

FAQs

What does "said our goodbyes" mean?

It means that we exchanged farewells before parting ways. It's a common way to describe the act of bidding someone goodbye.

What can I say instead of "said our goodbyes"?

You could use phrases like "bade farewell", "parted ways", or "took our leave", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

How do I use "said our goodbyes" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a past event where people said farewell. For example, "After the party, we said our goodbyes and went home".

Is it correct to say "say our goodbyes"?

While "say our goodbyes" is grammatically valid, it is typically used in the present or future tense. For past events, "said our goodbyes" is the more appropriate choice.