1 B2 neutral
To lose a life-threatening amount of blood from a wound.
"The medic applied pressure to the wound to stop the soldier from bleeding out."
inseparable
bleed out
B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
To lose so much blood from a wound that one dies or is in critical danger; also used for liquids or resources draining away completely.
In plain English
To lose all your blood from a cut or wound until you die or are very close to death.
What does "bleed out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic neutral
Figuratively, for resources, finances, or energy to drain away entirely.
"Poor management caused the company to bleed out over five years until there was nothing left."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To bleed (lose blood) until it is all out — very transparent.
Actually means
To lose all your blood from a cut or wound until you die or are very close to death.
Usage tip
Common in medical, military, and crime drama contexts. Highly clinical and direct. Also used figuratively to describe resources, energy, or finances draining away completely. The medical sense is frequent in action films, news reports, and emergency medicine.
Words that pair with "bleed out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
wound injury battlefield hospital patient economy
How to conjugate "bleed out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bleed out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bleeds out
he/she/it
Past simple
bleeded out
yesterday
Past participle
bleeded out
have + pp
-ing form
bleeding out
continuous
Hear "bleed out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "bleed out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.