Illustration of boss
- boss 1c
boss
1 of 6noun (1)
ˈbȯs 
ˈbäs
ˈbäs 1
: a person who exercises control or authority
union bosses
a mafia boss
specifically : one who directs or supervises workers
asking your boss for a raise
2
politics : one who controls votes in a party organization or dictates appointments or legislative measures
standing up to the party bosses
bossdom
ˈbȯs-dəm
noun ˈbäs-
bossism
ˈbȯ-ˌsi-zəm
noun ˈbä-
boss
2 of 6verb (1)
ˈbȯs ˈbäs
ˈbäs bossed; bossing; bosses
transitive verb
1
: to give usually arbitrary orders to —usually used with around
Quit bossing me around.
2
: to exercise control or authority over : to act as boss (see boss entry 1) of
need someone to boss that job
boss
3 of 6adjective
ˈbȯs
slang
: excellent, first-rate
a boss new rock band
boss
4 of 6noun (2)
ˈbäs ˈbȯs
ˈbȯs 1
a
: a raised ornamentation (as on a belt or shield) : stud
b
: an ornamental projecting block used in architecture
c
: a protuberant part or body
a boss of granite
a boss on an animal's horn
2
: a soft pad used in ceramics and glassmaking
3
: the hub of a propeller
boss
5 of 6verb (2)
ˈbäs ˈbȯs
ˈbȯs bossed; bossing; bosses
transitive verb
1
: to embellish (something, such as a belt or shield) with a raised decoration : to ornament with bosses (see boss entry 4) : emboss
a bossed book cover
2
: to treat (something, such as the surface of porcelain) with a boss
boss
6 of 6noun (3)
ˈbȯs ˈbäs
ˈbäs : cow, calf
Did you know?
The Dutch settlements in North America all came under English rule in the 1660s and 1670s, but Dutch continued to be spoken in the region long afterward. In American English, the lexical heritage of the Dutch colonies includes dope, stoop (meaning “porch”), and Santa Claus. Perhaps the most pervasive Dutch loanword is boss, from the Dutch baas, meaning “master.” The word first appears in the form boss in 1806, used by Washington Irving. Part of its success seems to have resulted from an American aversion to master, which was common in British use.
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- boss man
- captain
- chief
- foreman
- head
- headman
- helmsman
- honcho
- jefe
- kingpin
- leader
- master
- taskmaster
Verb (1)
- captain
- handle
- head
- overlook
- oversee
- quarterback
- superintend
- supervise
Adjective
- A-OK
- A1
- awesome
- bang-up
- banner
- beautiful
- blue-chip
- blue-ribbon
- boffo
- bonny [chiefly British]
- bonnie
- brag
- brave
- bully
- bumper
- capital
- choice
- classic
- cool [slang]
- corking
- crackerjack
- cracking
- dandy
- divine
- dope [slang]
- down [slang]
- dynamite
- excellent
- fab
- fabulous
- famous
- fantabulous [slang]
- fantastic
- fine
- first-class
- first-rate
- first-string
- five-star
- four-star
- frontline
- gangbusters
- gangbuster
- gilt-edged
- gilt-edge
- gone [slang]
- grand
- great
- groovy
- heavenly
- high-class
- hot
- hype [slang]
- immense
- jim-dandy
- keen
- lovely
- marvelous
- marvellous
- mean
- neat
- nifty
- noble
- number one
- No. 1
- numero uno
- out-of-sight [slang]
- par excellence
- peachy
- peachy keen
- phat [slang]
- prime
- primo [slang]
- prize
- prizewinning
- quality
- radical [slang]
- righteous [slang]
- sensational
- slick
- splendid
- stellar
- sterling
- superb
- superior
- superlative
- supernal
- swell
- terrific
- tip-top
- top
- top-notch
- top-of-the-line
- top-shelf
- topflight
- topping [chiefly British]
- unsurpassed
- wizard [chiefly British]
- wonderful
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective a boss new rock band that's a really boss stereo you've got
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1), Verb (1), and Adjective
Dutch baas master
Noun (2) and Verb (2)
Middle English boce, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *bottia
Noun (3)
English dialect, young cow
First Known Use
Noun (1)
1653, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (1)
1856, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Adjective
1836, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1c
Verb (2)
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (3)
1790, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing boss
Kids Definition
boss 1 of 2
noun
ˈbȯs
1
: the person at a job who tells workers what to do
2
: the head of a group (as a political organization)
boss
2 of 2verb
bossed; bossing
: to give orders to
Don't boss me around.
Medical Definition
boss
noun
ˈbäs, ˈbȯs
: a protuberant part or body
a boss on an animal's horn
bosses 1 of 2
noun
as in leaders
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do every morning the boss hands out a list of top-priority tasks Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- leaders
- foremen
- managers
- chiefs
- masters
- captains
- commanders
- directors
- supervisors
- heads
- administrators
- executives
- lords
- superintendents
- honchos
- overseers
- taskmasters
- jefes
- kingpins
- presidents
- governors
- headmen
- principals
- helmsmen
- superiors
- generals
- employers
- rulers
- boss men
- bigwigs
- kings
- overlords
- mistresses
- stewards
- magnates
- skippers
- barons
- princes
- higher-ups
- directresses
- potentates
- leadmen
- sovereigns
- moguls
- micromanagers
- dominators
- czars
- figureheads
- hierarchs
- straw bosses
- big guns
- coleaders
- gangers
- top guns
- big cheeses
- gaffers
- standard-bearers
- top dogs
- co-leaders
- sovrans
- tsars
- subdirectors
- subchiefs
- tzars
- co-heads
- coheads
- sub-chiefs
- sub-directors
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- subordinates
- dependents
- subjects
- juniors
- underlings
- secondaries
- inferiors
bosses
2 of 2verb
1
as in supervises
to be in charge of she bossed that project for years, until she was promoted again Synonyms & Similar Words
- supervises
- handles
- heads
- oversees
- captains
- commands
- manages
- quarterbacks
- steers
- orders
- guides
- controls
- watches over
- superintends
- shepherds
- directs
- monitors
- runs
- shows
- rides herd on
- overlooks
- calls the tune (for)
- rules
- calls the shots (of)
- administers
- reigns
- governs
- presides (over)
2
as in rules
to exercise authority or power over bossed the entire job site for a year Synonyms & Similar Words
- rules
- captains
- governs
- controls
- dictates
- commands
- domineers
- dominates
- heads
- masters
- manages
- leads
- presides (over)
- sways
- oversees
- micromanages
- administers
- supervises
- superintends
- tyrannizes
- regulates
- oppresses
- conquers
- subjugates
- directs
- conducts
- lords (it over)
- reigns (over)
- subdues
3
as in captains
to serve as leader of bossed the entire gang of electricians on the construction project Synonyms & Similar Words
- captains
- commands
- leads
- heads
- controls
- spearheads
- oversees
- dominates
- manages
- handles
- supervises
- directs
- governs
- regulates
- superintends
- runs
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- yields (to)
- submits (to)
- follows
- obeys
- bows (to)
- serves
- complies (with)
- defers (to)