[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/bail/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [B](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/b/) / bail

# bail

noun (bail, bails); verb (bail, bails, bailed, bailing)

«bail» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. noun (law): Money paid to a court so a person accused of a crime can stay out of prison until the trial; «on bail» means released this way. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bail/#m1)
2. verb: To scoop water out of a boat with a bucket (UK also spelled «bale»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bail/#m2)
3. noun (cricket): One of the two small wooden pieces resting on top of the stumps. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bail/#m3)
4. «bail out»: to help someone out of trouble, often with money; or to jump out of a plane by parachute. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bail/#m4)
5. (slang) To leave suddenly, or to not turn up: «I'm gonna bail», «He bailed on us». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bail/#m5)
6. To go bail for someone means to promise that they will behave well, or to vouch for them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bail/#m6)

### In the lessons

Heard in news and crime stories (law), sailing and survival stories (bailing water), cricket lessons in the UK, Australia and NZ, and teen talk (bail = leave). Phrases: «on bail», «bail out», «bail on someone».

### Examples

- He was released on bail. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bail/#x1)
- We bailed water out of the leaking boat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bail/#x2)
- The ball knocked off a bail — out! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bail/#x3)
- The bank was bailed out by the government. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bail/#x4)
- The pilot bailed out before the crash. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bail/#x5)
- It's late, I'm gonna bail. (slang) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bail/#x6)
- She bailed on the party at the last minute. (slang) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bail/#x7)
- Grab the bucket and help me bail! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bail/#x8)
- I'll go bail you won't play such a trick on us again. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bail/#x9)

### Note

Homophone: «bale» (a bundle of hay); British English also uses «bale out» for boats and planes. «Bail» in law is money that is given back if the person comes to court.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «bail» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bail/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«bail» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bail.html) on Mova free.