Ask Difference

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.
Tied vs. Bound — What's the Difference?

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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Author Spotlight

Written by
Maham Liaqat
Tayyaba 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.

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