What does bombed mean?
Bombed is the past tense and past participle of the verb 'bomb,' most directly meaning to attack a place or person with explosive devices. From this military origin, the word has developed several figurative senses. In informal speech, particularly in the entertainment world, a film, play, or performer that 'bombed' failed dismally — drawing no audience or receiving a hostile reception. In colloquial North American English, 'bombed' can also describe someone who is very drunk, though this slang usage is dated by some speakers. The word carries strong connotations: literally, destruction and violence; figuratively, embarrassing failure or excess. Its flexibility makes it useful across registers — journalists write that cities were bombed during wartime, while critics casually note that a sitcom bombed in its first season. Derived forms include 'bombing,' 'bomber,' and the noun 'bomb' itself, all sharing the same core image of sudden, forceful impact.
Past tense and past participle of 'bomb': to attack with explosive devices; informally, to fail badly or to be intoxicated.
"Allied forces bombed the harbour for three consecutive nights."
(Informal) Very drunk; also describing something that has failed completely.
"After three cocktails, he was completely bombed."
In British slang, 'bombed' once meant drunk — but in America, saying a movie 'bombed' is the kindest way to say nobody went to see it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bombed
Bombed derives from 'bomb,' which entered English from French 'bombe,' itself borrowed from Italian 'bomba,' ultimately from the Greek 'bombos,' a word imitating a booming or buzzing sound. The explosive sense arose when such weapons appeared in warfare, and the verb 'to bomb' developed naturally from the noun. Figurative uses — failing badly or being intoxicated — emerged in twentieth-century American English, extending the idea of a sudden, dramatic impact to performances and people alike.
Related word forms
How bombed is actually used
As a verb form, 'bombed' is neutral in register. The sense of failing badly is informal and common in entertainment contexts ('the film bombed'). The sense meaning 'drunk' is slang, used almost exclusively in casual speech and largely in North American English.
Easily confused with bombed
'Tomb' refers to a grave or burial chamber, while 'bombed' describes an explosive attack, failure, or drunkenness.