Bail (Verb)
Meaning 1
Secure the release of (someone) by providing security.
Classification
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.
Examples
- The wealthy businessman offered to bail his friend out of jail after the arrest.
- She was forced to mortgage her home to bail her brother out of financial trouble and a lengthy prison sentence.
- The family scraped together all their savings to bail their teenage son out of jail after a minor offense.
- The lawyer arranged for her client to be bailed and released pending the outcome of the trial.
- In an act of kindness, the social worker offered to bail the young woman out of jail and help her rebuild her life.
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Meaning 2
Release after a security has been paid.
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- The court decided to bail the defendant out of jail until the trial date.
- After being arrested for reckless driving, her parents had to pawn their car to bail her out.
- He was released from jail after his friends managed to bail him out with the money they had collected.
- The judge agreed to bail the young offender on the condition that she would return for her court hearing.
- Her wealthy businessman father immediately paid the money required to bail her out of custody.
Hypernyms
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Meaning 3
Empty (a vessel) by bailing.
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The sailor had to bail water out of the flooded boat to keep it afloat.
- The fisherman was forced to bail his sinking vessel with a small bucket.
- She kneeled in the dinghy and started to bail out the icy water with her hands.
- A rope was attached to a pail for bailing water from the creaky old skiff.
- As the storm churned on, he struggled to bail fast enough to keep the canoe from capsizing.
Meaning 4
Deliver something in trust to somebody for a special purpose and for a limited period.
Classification
Verbs of buying, selling, owning.
Examples
- The hotel staff was in charge of checking in the guests and bailing their luggage, which would then be stored securely until their check-out.
- When purchasing a new home, the couple relied on the realtor to bail the property papers temporarily until they came up with the funds.
- Her friend agreed to bail the expensive camera while she went to the restroom, afraid it might be stolen.
- The librarian made sure that the students bailed the library books for only a few days to finish their projects.
- While he was on vacation, John had asked his neighbor to bail the mail and newspaper so his mailbox would not overflow.
Hypernyms
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Meaning 5
Remove (water) from a vessel with a container.
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- She bailed water out of the lifeboat after the leak was discovered, but it was a slow process.
- The crew bailed as much water as they could from the sinking ship before it was too late.
- Hikers bailed mud and water from their boots before continuing along the trail.
- The boat's pump broke down and the sailors had to start bailing water to stay afloat.
- After the heavy rainfall, the farmer had to bail water from the swimming pool before the kids could use it again.