Bid — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Meaning & Definition of Bid

Bid (verb)

to offer (a price) whether for payment or acceptance
to make a bid of or in (a suit at cards)
offer —usually used in the phrase to bid defiance

Bid (noun)

a statement of what one will give or take for something; especially, an offer of a price
something offered as a bid
the act of one who bids

Bid (abbreviation)

twice a day
bachelor of industrial design

Bid (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

an effort to do or accomplish something

"a dramatic film that is widely regarded as the comedian's last-ditch bid to be taken seriously as an actor"

similar: assay (archaic), attempt, bash (chiefly British), crack, endeavor, essay, fling, go, offer, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, whack, whirl

related: striving, struggle, throes, undertaking, trial and error

Bid (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority

"the servants were expected to do exactly as they were bidden"

similar: adjure, boss (around), charge, command, direct, enjoin, instruct, order, tell

related: ask, petition, request, beg, beseech, entreat, advise, counsel, warn, appoint, assign, authorize, commission, oversee, superintend, supervise, conduct, control, lead, manage, coerce, compel, constrain, force, oblige, require

opposite: mind, obey

near: comply (with), follow, keep, observe
to request the presence or participation of

"as company president, I bid you all to come to our annual holiday party!"

similar: ask, invite

related: solicit, beckon, call, summon

Related Entry: Bade (verb)

Bade is a different word from Bid. The synonyms below are for bade, not for bid.

to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority

"the servants were expected to do exactly as they were bidden"

similar: adjured, bossed (around), charged, commanded, directed, enjoined, instructed, ordered, told

related: asked, petitioned, requested, begged, beseeched, entreated, advised, counseled, warned, appointed, assigned, authorized, commissioned, oversaw, superintended, supervised, conducted, controlled, led, managed, coerced, compelled, constrained, forced, obliged, required

opposite: minded, obeyed

near: complied (with), followed, kept, observed
to request the presence or participation of

"as company president, I bid you all to come to our annual holiday party!"

similar: asked, invited

related: solicited, beckoned, called, summoned

Related Entry: Bidden (verb)

Bidden is a different word from Bid. The synonyms below are for bidden, not for bid.

to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority

"the servants were expected to do exactly as they were bidden"

similar: adjured, bossed (around), charged, commanded, directed, enjoined, instructed, ordered, told

related: asked, petitioned, requested, begged, beseeched, entreated, advised, counseled, warned, appointed, assigned, authorized, commissioned, overseen, superintended, supervised, conducted, controlled, led, managed, coerced, compelled, constrained, forced, obliged, required

opposite: minded, obeyed

near: complied (with), followed, kept, observed
to request the presence or participation of

"as company president, I bid you all to come to our annual holiday party!"

similar: asked, invited

related: solicited, beckoned, called, summoned

Related Entry: Bid fair (phrase)

Bid fair is a different word from Bid. The synonyms below are for bid fair, not for bid.

to show signs of a favorable or successful outcome

"The weather conditions bid fair to yield a good crop."

similar: augur, bode, forebode, promise

related: forecast, foretell, predict, presage, prognosticate, prophesy, forewarn, warn, anticipate, divine, foreknow, foresee, betoken, foreshadow, harbinger, portend, prefigure, presignify, indicate, signify, allude, connote, hint, imply, insinuate, intimate, suggest

Related Entry: Bade fair (phrase)

Bade fair is a different word from Bid. The synonyms below are for bade fair, not for bid.

to show signs of a favorable or successful outcome

"The weather conditions bid fair to yield a good crop."

similar: augured, boded, foreboded, promised

related: forecast, foretold, predicted, presaged, prognosticated, prophesied, forewarned, warned, anticipated, divined, foreknew, foresaw, betokened, foreshadowed, harbingered, portended, prefigured, presignified, indicated, signified, alluded, connoted, hinted, implied, insinuated, intimated, suggested

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Bid

The most common words with a similar meaning to Bid:

Archaic: assay

Chiefly British: bash

attempt, crack, endeavor, essay, fling, go, offer, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, whack, whirl, adjure, boss (around), charge, command, direct, enjoin, instruct, order, tell, ask, invite

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Bid

Words with the opposite meaning of Bid:

mind, obey

Related Words for Bid

striving, struggle, throes, undertaking, trial and error, petition, request, beg, beseech, entreat, advise, counsel, warn, appoint, assign, authorize, commission, oversee, superintend, supervise, conduct, control, lead, manage, coerce, compel, constrain, force, oblige, require

Near Antonyms of Bid

comply (with), follow, keep, observe

Word Forms of Bid

Inflections: bade, bidden, bidding

Derived words: bidder (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Bid

partly from Middle English bidden, from Old English biddan; akin to Old High German bitten to entreat, and perhaps to Sanskrit bādhate he presses; partly from Middle English beden to offer, command, from Old English bēodan; akin to Old High German biotan to offer, Greek pynthanesthai to examine, Sanskrit bodhi enlightenment

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Bid

CEFR level: B2 English Vocabulary — Page 3
Topics: Business & Economics

Words & Phrases Containing Bid

bid fair, bid up, takeover bid, counterbid

Frequently Asked Questions about Bid

What does "Bid" mean?

"Bid" means to offer (a price) whether for payment or acceptance. As an a verb, a noun and an abbreviation, it is defined as: to offer (a price) whether for payment or acceptance. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Bid"?

Other words for "Bid" include assay, attempt, bash, crack, endeavor, essay, fling and go. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Bid" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Bid"?

There are 61 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Bid". Common alternatives include assay, attempt, bash, crack, endeavor, essay, fling, go, offer and pass.

What is the opposite of "Bid"?

Antonyms of "Bid" include mind and obey. Near antonyms include comply (with), follow, keep and observe.

How do you use "Bid" in a sentence?

Examples of "Bid" in a sentence: "a dramatic film that is widely regarded as the comedian's last-ditch bid to be taken seriously as an actor"; "the servants were expected to do exactly as they were bidden"; "as company president, I bid you all to come to our annual holiday party!".

Is "Bid" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Bid" can be used as a verb, a noun and an abbreviation, depending on the context.

Is "Bid" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Bid" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Bid"?

"Bid" is pronounced /ˈbid/.