How do you use the word "farewell" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "farewell": I got a farewell present from everyone. Now that we are all here, we can start the farewell party.

Farewell Meaning

/fɛəˈwɛl/

Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounA wish of happiness or safety at parting, especially a permanent departure.

nounA departure; the act of leaving.

Sentence Examples

I got a farewell present from everyone.

Now that we are all here, we can start the farewell party.

A farewell party was held in honor of Mr Smith.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

leave

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

The retiring teacher received a warm ____ from her grateful students.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

They held a ____ party for their colleague who was moving to another country for a new job.

Word Origin & History

From Middle English farewel, from fare wel! (and the variants with the personal pronoun "fare ye well" and "fare you well" used in the Renaissance), an imperative expression, possibly further derived from Old English *far wel!, equivalent to fare (“to fare, travel, journey”) + well. Compare Scots farewele, fairweill (“farewell”), Saterland Frisian Foarwäil (“farewell”), West Frisian farwol (“farewell”), German Fahrwol, Fahrwohl, East Frisian forwal, Dutch vaarwel (“farewell (sadly)”), Danish farvel (“farewell”), Norwegian farvel (“farewell”), Swedish farväl (“farewell”), Faroese farvæl (“goodbye”), Icelandic far vel (“farewell”). The extensive list of cognates suggests a postulated ultimate Proto-Germanic phrase of origin, possibly something akin to *far wela.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"The departure was not unduly prolonged.[…]Within the door Mrs. Spoker hastily imparted to Mrs. Love a few final sentiments on the subject of Divine Intention in the disposition of buckets; farewells and last commiserations; a deep, guttural instigation to the horse; and the wheels of the waggonette crunched heavily away into obscurity." — 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 5, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:

"The last train—a three-coach A.E.C. unit—from Belfast to Crumlin and back, was bade farewell with fog signals as it carried a capacity crowd of last-trip travellers." — 1960 November, L. Hyland, “The Irish Scene”, in Trains Illustrated, page 691:

"See how the morning opes her golden gates, And takes her farewell of the glorious sun." — c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:

"“I'm through with all pawn-games,” I laughed. “Come, let us have a game of lansquenet. Either I will take a farewell fall out of you or you will have your sevenfold revenge”." — 1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter I, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:

"But with the first gray light of dawn he arose; and before drawing the white sheet veilingly over, he took a last farewell look at that angel face." — 1858, John Saunders, Westland Marston, The National Magazine, volume 3, page 133:

Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words