farewells
Waves at departures
Farewells are acts of parting or leave-taking—the goodbyes exchanged when people separate.
The word covers everything from casual waves to tearful airport scenes: We said our farewells and promised to write.
A farewell can also be a formal occasion marking someone's departure: The office threw her a farewell party.
To bid farewell is slightly literary.
Departing salutation
- adieuFormal leave-taking
- fare-thee-wellFormal parting expression
- so longInformal parting phrase
- au revoirFrench parting phrase
sayonara · ciao · cheerio · adios · toodle-oo · shalom · godspeed · see you later
Act of leaving another
- bittersweetWistful yet warm
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- nostalgiaLonging for the past
- longingIntense, persistent desire
poignant · wistful · yearning · sentimental · heartache · sorrowful · tender · tearful
Traveler's send-off phrase
- embarkationBeginning a voyage
- exodusMass departure from somewhere
- leavetakingAct of saying goodbye
- send-offFarewell gathering or party
journey · emigration · setting sail · relocation · flight · evacuation · withdrawal · retreat
Farewell address or oration
- swan songFinal work or performance
- last wordsTerminal utterance
- final bowPerformer's closing acknowledgment
- curtain callPost-show audience acknowledgment
sign-off · eulogy · toast · retirement speech · graduation · commencement · tribute · wake
Consent to receive
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- finalityState of conclusive completion
- conclusionEnd or deduction
- endingFinal portion of something
peace · reconciliation · completion · catharsis · consolation · relief · moving on · last chapter
Chances to start again
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
- fresh startOpportunity to restart unburdened
- changeTo make different
next chapter · moving on · milestone · threshold · passage · door closing
goodbye
Departing salutation
- adieuFormal leave-taking
- fare-thee-wellFormal parting expression
- so longInformal parting phrase
au revoir · sayonara · ciao · cheerio · adios · toodle-oo · shalom · godspeed · see you later · take care
parting
Act of leaving another
- bittersweetWistful yet warm
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- nostalgiaLonging for the past
longing · poignant · wistful · yearning · sentimental · heartache · sorrowful · tender · tearful · regretful
bon voyage
Traveler's send-off phrase
- embarkationBeginning a voyage
- exodusMass departure from somewhere
- leavetakingAct of saying goodbye
send-off · journey · emigration · setting sail · relocation · flight · evacuation · withdrawal · retreat · last day
valedictory
Farewell address or oration
- swan songFinal work or performance
- last wordsTerminal utterance
- final bowPerformer's closing acknowledgment
curtain call · sign-off · eulogy · toast · retirement speech · graduation · commencement · tribute · wake · memorial
acceptance
Consent to receive
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- finalityState of conclusive completion
- conclusionEnd or deduction
ending · peace · reconciliation · completion · catharsis · consolation · relief · moving on · last chapter · final words
new beginnings
Chances to start again
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
- fresh startOpportunity to restart unburdened
next chapter · change · moving on · milestone · threshold · passage · door closing
- chitchatsmall talk, banter, chitchat, chatter, chat
- social exchangesgreetings, handshakes, thank yous, welcomes, goodbyes
- communicationtelephone, conversation, inform, hand signal, messages
- conversationlistening, talk, talking, chat, speaking
- Learning Frenchvocabulary, grammar, verbs, nouns, adjectives
- social skillssocial skills, conversation, sharing, helping, listening
farewellsgreetings
Expressions upon meeting
hellos · salutations · welcomes · hi · introductions
farewellsreunions
Gatherings of separated people
homecomings · arrivals · meetings · rendezvous · encounters
- farewell partyGathering for someone leaving
- farewell noteMessage left when departing
- farewell speechFormal goodbye address
- farewell tourFinal performance series before retirement
- farewell dinnerMeal honoring someone leaving
- final farewellConclusive leave-taking