What does bolden mean?
'Bolden' is a rare English verb meaning to make bold — that is, to give someone courage, confidence, or daring. A soldier might be boldened by a rousing speech, or a shy performer by warm applause. The word was formed within English from the adjective 'bold' plus the verbal suffix '-en', on the same pattern as 'soften' or 'quicken'. Historically, both 'bolden' and its prefixed cousin 'embolden' existed side by side, but over time 'embolden' won out decisively, leaving 'bolden' largely confined to older texts, dialect use, and occasional literary revival. Because modern readers may find it unfamiliar or even mistake it for a typo of 'embolden', writers today generally choose 'embolden' unless they are deliberately evoking an antique flavor. As a curiosity of English word formation, though, 'bolden' neatly illustrates how competing verbs built from the same root can rise and fall over the centuries.
verbTo make bold or more courageous; to give someone or something greater confidence or daring.
- (transitive) To make bold; to give courage or confidence to someone.
- (intransitive, rare) To become bold; to grow more daring.
"The general's stirring speech served to bolden his weary troops before the final advance."
"A few kind words from her mentor were enough to bolden the nervous young violinist before her debut."
"Emboldened by early success — or, in older phrasing, boldened by it — the team pressed on with the risky experiment."
Before 'embolden' took over the job, English once had 'bolden' doing the very same work — a near-forgotten verb that survives mostly in dictionaries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bolden
The verb 'bolden' was formed in English from the Middle English adjective 'bold' (from Old English 'bald', meaning brave or confident) combined with the suffix '-en', which converts adjectives into verbs. The underlying root is Germanic, shared with related words across the Germanic languages. Its longer form 'embolden', prefixed with 'em-' (from Old French 'en-'), arose alongside it and ultimately became the dominant term, rendering plain 'bolden' rare after the early modern period.
How bolden is actually used
'Bolden' is now rare and somewhat literary or archaic; in contemporary writing, 'embolden' is strongly preferred and will be understood by virtually all readers. Reserve 'bolden' for deliberate stylistic or historical effect.
Easily confused with bolden
'Embolden' is the far more common standard verb meaning to make bold, whereas 'bolden' is a rarer, older variant of essentially the same meaning.
'Beholden' means indebted or obligated to someone, while 'bolden' means to make courageous — the two merely share a similar sound.