Bid

/bɪd/

verbBeginnerVery CommonGeneral

Definitions

3 meanings
1

To offer a price, typically in an auction or competitive tender.

/bɪd/

verbneutralBeginner
General

To offer a price

He bid on the painting.

💡 Simply: To offer money to buy something.

More Examples

2

They bid aggressively for the contract.

How It's Used

Auctions

"She bid $500 for the antique vase."

Business

"The company bid on the construction project."

2

An offer of a price, especially in an auction or for a contract.

/bɪd/

nounneutralBeginner
Legal

An offer of a price

The winning bid was surprisingly low.

💡 Simply: An offer of a price to buy something.

More Examples

2

Several bids were submitted for the job.

How It's Used

Auctions

"The highest bid was $1000."

Contracts

"Their bid for the project was accepted."

Tip:Think of the highest bid winning the item.
3

To attempt to achieve something; to make an effort to do or obtain something.

/bɪd/

verbneutralIntermediate
General

To try to achieve something

He bid to win the game.

💡 Simply: To try to do something.

More Examples

2

She bid for their attention.

How It's Used

General

"She bid farewell to her friends."

Tip:To bid farewell is to try to say goodbye successfully.

Idioms & expressions

bid farewell

To say goodbye.

"They bid farewell to their homeland."

Old English *biddan, meaning "to pray, ask, offer". The modern meanings developed from various uses of this early form.

The word 'bid' has maintained its core meaning of offering or attempting throughout its history, evolving from requests and prayers to competitive offers.

Memory tip

Think of bidding wars at auctions.

Base: bid
bidebidd

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written