Tied vs. Bound — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 13, 2024
Tied implies being fastened or secured with a rope or cord, focusing on the action of tying, while bound suggests a state of being restrained or obligated, often beyond physical ties.
Difference Between Tied and Bound
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Key Differences
Tied is commonly used to describe the act of securing or fastening objects together with a rope, string, or similar material, emphasizing the method of connection. Whereas, bound can refer to physical restraints but often extends to legal, moral, or emotional obligations, indicating a broader range of constraints.
When discussing relationships or agreements, being tied to something usually suggests a voluntary association or partnership, such as being tied to a cause. On the other hand, being bound to something typically conveys a sense of duty or requirement, such as being bound by a contract, highlighting the compulsory nature.
In sports or competitions, a game might end in a tie, meaning both teams have the same score and share the outcome. Bound, however, doesn't have a direct application in this context, illustrating how tied can also signify equality or balance in certain situations.
The phrase "tied up" often refers to someone being physically restrained or a schedule that is fully occupied, suggesting a temporary condition. Conversely, "bound up" can imply a deep connection or entanglement in situations, often hinting at complexities beyond mere physical restraint.
Tied also appears in expressions like "getting tied up in knots," symbolizing confusion or complications in plans or thoughts. Bound is used in phrases like "homeward bound," expressing a definitive direction or purpose, underscoring the intention or destiny aspect rather than confusion.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Secured with a rope, string, or similar
Restrained, obligated, or on a directed path
Context of Use
Physical fastening, equality in competition
Physical, legal, emotional constraints
Implication of Choice
Often voluntary (tying oneself to something)
Suggests obligation or necessity
Expression Examples
"Getting tied up in knots"
"Homeward bound"
Relationship to Freedom
May suggest temporary restraint or involvement
Indicates a stronger or more permanent constraint
Compare with Definitions
Tied
Secured with rope or cord.
The boat was tied to the dock to prevent it from drifting away.
Bound
Obligated by law, promise, or duty.
He was bound by the contract to complete the work.
Tied
Entangled or complicated.
I got tied up in traffic and arrived late.
Bound
Destined or certain.
With such talent, she is bound for success.
Tied
Connected or associated.
She felt tied to her hometown, despite years of living abroad.
Bound
Constrained or restricted.
Bound by tradition, they followed the old ways.
Tied
Equal in score or position.
The teams were tied at the end of the match, leading to overtime.
Bound
Tightly connected or inseparable.
They are bound by a deep friendship.
Tied
Occupied or busy.
He's tied up in meetings all day and can't come to the phone.
Bound
Heading towards a specific destination.
The ship was homeward bound after a long voyage.
Tied
To fasten or secure with or as if with a cord, rope, or strap
Tied the kite to a post.
Tie up a bundle.
Bound
Walk or run with leaping strides
Shares bounded ahead in early dealing
Louis came bounding down the stairs
Tied
To fasten by drawing together the parts or sides and knotting with strings or laces
Tied her shoes.
Bound
Form the boundary of; enclose
The ground was bounded by a main road on one side and a meadow on the other
Tied
To make by fastening ends or parts
Tie a knot.
Bound
Past and past participle of bind
Tied
To put a knot or bow in
Tie a neck scarf.
Bound
A leaping movement towards or over something
I went up the steps in two effortless bounds
Tied
To confine or restrict as if with cord
Duties that tied him to the office.
Bound
A territorial limit; a boundary
The ancient bounds of the forest
Tied
To equal (an opponent or an opponent's score) in a contest.
Bound
Certain to be or to do or have something
There is bound to be a change of plan
Tied
To equal an opponent's score in (a contest)
Tied the game with minutes remaining.
Bound
Restricted or confined to a specified place
His job kept him city-bound
Tied
(Music)To join (notes) by a tie.
Bound
(of a book) having a specified binding
Fine leather-bound books
Tied
To be fastened or attached
The apron ties at the back.
Bound
(of a grammatical element) occurring only in combination with another form.
Tied
To achieve equal scores in a contest.
Bound
Going or ready to go towards a specified place
An express train bound for Edinburgh
The three moon-bound astronauts
Tied
A cord, string, or other means by which something is tied.
Bound
To leap forward or upward; jump; spring
The dog bounded over the gate.
Tied
Something that connects or unites; a link
A blood tie.
Marital ties.
Bound
To move forward by leaps or springs
The deer bounded into the woods.
Tied
A necktie.
Bound
To spring back from a surface; rebound
The basketball bounded off the backboard.
Tied
A beam or rod that joins parts and gives support.
Bound
To set a limit to; confine
A high wall that bounded the prison yard.
Lives that were bounded by poverty.
Tied
One of the timbers or slabs of concrete laid across a railroad bed to support the rails.
Bound
To constitute the boundary or limit of
A city park that was bounded by busy streets.
Tied
An equality of scores, votes, or performance in a contest
The election ended in a tie.
Bound
To identify the boundaries of; demarcate.
Tied
A contest so resulting; a draw.
Bound
To border on another place, state, or country.
Tied
(Music)A curved line above or below two notes of the same pitch, indicating that the tone is to be sustained for their combined duration.
Bound
Past tense and past participle of bind.
Tied
Closely connected or associated.
As a couple, they are strongly tied to one another.
Bound
A leap; a jump
The deer was away in a single bound.
Tied
Restricted.
Bound
A springing back from a surface after hitting it; a bounce
Caught the ball on the bound.
Tied
Conditional on other agreements being upheld.
Bound
Often bounds A boundary; a limit
Our joy knew no bounds. Your remarks exceed the bounds of reason.
Tied
That resulted in a tie.
Bound
Bounds The territory on, within, or near limiting lines
The bounds of the kingdom.
Tied
Provided for use by an employer for as long as one is employed, often with restrictions on the conditions of use.
Bound
Confined by bonds; tied
Bound hostages.
Tied
(archeology) Having walls that are connected in a few places by a single stone overlapping from one wall to another.
Bound
Being under legal or moral obligation
Bound by my promise.
Tied
(philately) a cover having a stamp where the postmark cancellation overlaps the stamp.
Bound
Equipped with a cover or binding
Bound volumes.
Tied
Simple past tense and past participle of tie
Bound
Predetermined; certain
We're bound to be late.
Tied
Bound or secured closely;
The guard was found trussed up with his arms and legs securely tied
A trussed chicken
Bound
Determined; resolved
Many public policy students are bound to be politicians one day.
Tied
Bound together by or as if by a strong rope; especially as by a bond of affection;
People tied by blood or marriage
Bound
(Linguistics) Being a form, especially a morpheme, that cannot stand as an independent word, such as a prefix or suffix.
Tied
Fastened with strings or cords;
A neatly tied bundle
Bound
Constipated.
Tied
Closed with a lace;
Snugly laced shoes
Bound
Headed or intending to head in a specified direction
Commuters bound for home.
A south-bound train.
Tied
Of the score in a contest;
The score is tied
Bound
Simple past tense and past participle of bind
I bound the splint to my leg.
I had bound the splint with duct tape.
Bound
To surround a territory or other geographical entity; to form the boundary of.
France, Portugal, Gibraltar and Andorra bound Spain.
Kansas is bounded by Nebraska on the north, Missouri on the east, Oklahoma on the south and Colorado on the west.
Bound
To be the bound of.
Bound
(intransitive) To leap, move by jumping.
The rabbit bounded down the lane.
Bound
(transitive) To cause to leap.
To bound a horse
Bound
To rebound; to bounce.
A rubber ball bounds on the floor
Bound
To cause to rebound; to throw so that it will rebound; to bounce.
To bound a ball on the floor
Bound
(with infinitive) Obliged (to).
You are not legally bound to reply.
Bound
That cannot stand alone as a free word.
Bound
Constrained by a quantifier.
Bound
(dated) Constipated; costive.
Bound
Confined or restricted to a certain place; e.g. railbound.
Bound
Unable to move in certain conditions; e.g. snowbound.
Bound
(obsolete) Ready, prepared.
Bound
Ready to start or go (to); moving in the direction (of).
Which way are you bound?
Is that message bound for me?
Bound
(with infinitive) Very likely (to), certain to
They were bound to come into conflict eventually.
Bound
A boundary, the border which one must cross in order to enter or leave a territory.
I reached the northern bound of my property, took a deep breath and walked on.
Somewhere within these bounds you may find a buried treasure.
Bound
(mathematics) A value which is known to be greater or smaller than a given set of values.
Bound
A sizeable jump, great leap.
The deer crossed the stream in a single bound.
Bound
A spring from one foot to the other in dancing.
Bound
(dated) A bounce; a rebound.
Bound
The external or limiting line, either real or imaginary, of any object or space; that which limits or restrains, or within which something is limited or restrained; limit; confine; extent; boundary.
He hath compassed the waters with bounds.
On earth's remotest bounds.
And mete the bounds of hate and love.
Bound
A leap; an elastic spring; a jump.
A bound of graceful hardihood.
Bound
Rebound; as, the bound of a ball.
Bound
Spring from one foot to the other.
Bound
To limit; to terminate; to fix the furthest point of extension of; - said of natural or of moral objects; to lie along, or form, a boundary of; to inclose; to circumscribe; to restrain; to confine.
Where full measure only bounds excess.
Phlegethon . . .Whose fiery flood the burning empire bounds.
Bound
To name the boundaries of; as, to bound France.
Bound
To move with a sudden spring or leap, or with a succession of springs or leaps; as the beast bounded from his den; the herd bounded across the plain.
Before his lord the ready spaniel bounds.
And the waves bound beneath me as a steedThat knows his rider.
Bound
To rebound, as an elastic ball.
Bound
To make to bound or leap; as, to bound a horse.
Bound
To cause to rebound; to throw so that it will rebound; as, to bound a ball on the floor.
Bound
Restrained by a hand, rope, chain, fetters, or the like.
Bound
Inclosed in a binding or cover; as, a bound volume.
Bound
Under legal or moral restraint or obligation.
Bound
Constrained or compelled; destined; certain; - followed by the infinitive; as, he is bound to succeed; he is bound to fail.
Bound
Resolved; as, I am bound to do it.
Bound
Constipated; costive.
Bound
Ready or intending to go; on the way toward; going; - with to or for, or with an adverb of motion; as, a ship is bound to Cadiz, or for Cadiz.
Bound
A line determining the limits of an area
Bound
The line or plane indicating the limit or extent of something
Bound
A light springing movement upwards or forwards
Bound
Move forward by leaps and bounds;
The horse bounded across the meadow
The child leapt across the puddle
Can you jump over the fence?
Bound
Form the boundary of; be contiguous to
Bound
Place limits on (extent or access);
Restrict the use of this parking lot
Limit the time you can spend with your friends
Bound
Spring back; spring away from an impact;
The rubber ball bounced
These particles do not resile but they unite after they collide
Bound
Held with another element, substance or material in chemical or physical union
Bound
Confined by bonds;
Bound and gagged hostages
Bound
Secured with a cover or binding; often used as a combining form;
Bound volumes
Leather-bound volumes
Bound
(usually followed by `to') governed by fate;
Bound to happen
An old house destined to be demolished
He is destined to be famous
Bound
Covered or wrapped with a bandage;
The bandaged wound on the back of his head
An injury bound in fresh gauze
Bound
Headed or intending to head in a certain direction; often used as a combining form as in `college-bound students';
Children bound for school
A flight destined for New York
Bound
Bound by an oath;
A bound official
Bound
Bound by contract
Bound
Confined in the bowels;
He is bound in the belly
Common Curiosities
Is being tied always physical?
No, being tied can also refer to emotional or situational connections, not just physical restraints.
How does being bound by duty differ from being tied to a duty?
Being bound by duty implies a stronger, possibly compulsory obligation, whereas being tied to a duty suggests a chosen or voluntary commitment.
What does it mean to be tied to something?
Being tied to something means being securely connected or having a close association or commitment to it.
Are the expressions "tied down" and "bound down" interchangeable?
Not exactly; "tied down" usually refers to being restricted by responsibilities or commitments, while "bound down" is not a common expression.
Can a business be tied and bound in an agreement?
Yes, a business can be tied to an agreement through partnership or commitment and bound by the legal obligations it entails.
Can a person be both tied and bound?
Yes, a person can be both tied and bound, physically restrained and obligated by duty or promise.
What does it mean if two people are tied in a competition?
It means they have the same score or standing, sharing an equal position.
Is being tied to a cause different from being bound to a cause?
Yes, being tied to a cause often suggests voluntary support or association, whereas being bound to a cause suggests a deeper commitment or obligation.
What does bound mean in legal terms?
In legal terms, bound refers to being obligated or constrained by the terms of a contract or agreement.
What is the difference between being tied up and bound up?
Being tied up often refers to being physically restrained or very busy, while bound up can mean deeply involved or entangled in a complex situation.
Can "bound" imply a positive connection?
Yes, "bound" can imply a positive and strong connection, especially in the context of friendships or relationships.
Can a game be bound?
No, a game cannot be described as bound; games can end in a tie, indicating an equal score.
How do "tied up in knots" and "bound up in something" differ?
"Tied up in knots" implies being in a state of confusion or complication, while "bound up in something" suggests being deeply involved or entangled in a matter.
What signifies being homeward bound?
Being homeward bound means heading towards home or returning home.
What does it mean to be emotionally bound to someone?
It means having a deep, possibly obligatory emotional connection or commitment to that person, often implying a sense of duty or necessity in the relationship.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
