bold
adjective B2
Plain meaning
confident, brave, or visually strong
Exam-register meaning
In exam writing, it can express confident, brave, or visually strong in a clearer or more formal way.
In context
naturalHis response sounded bold, so the conversation became difficult.
examThe passage presents a bold assessment of the policy’s wider consequences.
Common collocations
a bold responsebold behavioura bold situation
Watch out
Do not use “very bold” automatically; some advanced adjectives already carry a strong meaning or need a more natural intensifier.
Word family
boldness (noun, where natural)boldly (adverb, where natural)