bored

Everyday

1. Bored means tired and restless because nothing interesting is happening or you have nothing to do. tree →
2. Bored is also the past form of «bore»: to make a hole by drilling, or to make someone feel bored. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and feelings, children feel bored on long car rides or rainy days; being bored can lead to new ideas, like inventing a game, reading or drawing. Saying «I'm bored» politely is fine, but saying «You're boring» can be unkind. In stories a bored character often starts an adventure. «Bored stiff» or «bored to tears» means very bored.

Examples

• I'm bored; there's nothing to do. tree →
• The children got bored on the long journey. tree →
• When I'm bored, I read a book. tree →
• She looked bored during the long speech. tree →
• Don't get bored; let's play a game. tree →
• The film was so slow that I was bored stiff. tree →
• Workers bored a hole through the rock. tree →
• In a little while he said with a bored air: tree →

Note

Trap: «bored» (how you feel) vs «boring» (what makes you feel it): «I am bored» (correct) vs «I am boring» (means you make others bored). Say «bored with» or «bored of». Homophone: «board» (a flat piece of wood, or to get on a ship/plane).

In Jewish tradition

Here it means pierced or drilled through, as with a hole. An older word that is used about a slave's ear.

Interpretation. In the law of the Hebrew slave who will not go free, his ear is bored with an awl at the door. Tradition reads this as marking one who prefers servitude to freedom under God.

Note

Trap: «bored» (how you feel) vs «boring» (what makes you feel it): «I am bored» (correct) vs «I am boring» (means you make others bored). Say «bored with» or «bored of». Homophone: «board» (a flat piece of wood, or to get on a ship/plane).