offer

[ aw-fer, of-er ]

verb (used with object)

1. to present for acceptance or rejection; proffer:

   He offered me a cigarette.

   Antonyms: withhold, withdraw

2. to propose or put forward for consideration:

   to offer a suggestion.

   Synonyms: propose, move, give

3. to propose or volunteer (to do something):

   She offered to accompany me.

4. to make a show of intention (to do something):

   We did not offer to go first.

5. to give, make, or promise:

   She offered no response.

6. to present solemnly as an act of worship or devotion, as to God, a deity or a saint; sacrifice.
7. to present for sale:

   He offered the painting to me at a reduced price.

8. to tender or bid as a price:

   to offer ten dollars for a radio.

9. to attempt or threaten to do, engage in, or inflict:

   to offer battle.

10. to put forth; exert:

    to offer resistance.

11. to present to sight or notice.
12. to introduce or present for exhibition or performance.
13. to render (homage, thanks, etc.).
14. to present or volunteer (oneself ) to someone as a spouse.

verb (used without object)

1. to present itself; occur:

   Whenever an opportunity offered, he slipped off to town.

2. to present something as an act of worship or devotion; sacrifice.
3. to make a proposal or suggestion.
4. to suggest oneself to someone for marriage; propose.
5. Archaic. to make an attempt (followed by at ).

noun

1. an act or instance of offering:

   an offer of help.

   Antonyms: denial, refusal

2. the condition of being offered:

   an offer for sale.

3. something offered.
4. a proposal or bid to give or pay something as the price of something else; bid:

   an offer of $90,000 for the house.

5. Law. a proposal that requires only acceptance in order to create a contract.
6. an attempt or endeavor.
7. a show of intention.
8. a proposal of marriage.

offer

¹

/ ˈɒfə /

verb

1. to present or proffer (something, someone, oneself, etc) for acceptance or rejection
2. tr to present as part of a requirement

   she offered English as a second subject

3. tr to provide or make accessible

   this stream offers the best fishing

4. intr to present itself

   if an opportunity should offer

5. tr to show or express willingness or the intention (to do something)
6. tr to put forward (a proposal, opinion, etc) for consideration
7. tr to present for sale
8. tr to propose as payment; bid or tender
9. whentr, often foll by up to present (a prayer, sacrifice, etc) as or during an act of worship
10. tr to show readiness for

    to offer battle

11. archaic.
    intr to make a proposal of marriage
12. tr; sometimes foll by up or to engineering to bring (a mechanical piece) near to or in contact with another, and often to proceed to fit the pieces together

noun

1. something, such as a proposal or bid, that is offered
2. the act of offering or the condition of being offered
3. contract law a proposal made by one person that will create a binding contract if accepted unconditionally by the person to whom it is made See also acceptance
4. a proposal of marriage
5. short for offer price
6. on offer
   for sale at a reduced price

Offer

²

/ ˈɒfə /

acronym for

1. Office of Electricity Regulation: merged with Ofgas in 1999 to form Ofgem

Derived Forms

• ˈofferer, noun

Other Words From

• offer·a·ble adjective
• offer·er offer·or noun
• non·offer noun
• pre·offer noun verb (used with object)
• re·offer verb noun
• self-offered adjective
• un·offered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of offer¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English offren, Old English offrian “to present in worship,” from Latin offerre, equivalent to of- of- + ferre “to bring”; bear ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of offer¹

Old English, from Latin offerre to present, from ob- to + ferre to bring

Synonym Study

Offer, proffer, tender mean to present for acceptance or refusal. Offer is a common word in general use for presenting something to be accepted or rejected: to offer assistance. Proffer, with the same meaning, is now chiefly a literary word: to proffer one's services. Tender (no longer used in reference to concrete objects) is a ceremonious term for a more or less formal or conventional act: to tender one's resignation.

Example Sentences

The bank put the house up for auction, but it didn’t receive any offers it found acceptable.

From ProPublica

Here’s what’s on offer if you’re eager to return to movieland.

From Fortune

When one of them had to leave for a rest break, they’d happily pass out each other’s literature and offer rides to each other’s elderly voters.

From Fortune

Meanwhile, South Dakota became the first state to turn down the offer, citing a strong economic rebound and no need for the additional aid.

From Fortune

There’s also little on offer for advertisers so far as Reels seeks to build a community first before rolling out ad formats and sponsored content tags.

From Digiday

Some seventy-plus countries currently offer some paternity leave or parental leave days reserved for the father.

From The Daily Beast

I will turn my nose up when you offer me the rest of some delicious pastry that you nibbled on.

From The Daily Beast

As a white, educated, Western, middle-class male, I possess most of the unearned privilege the world has to offer.

From The Daily Beast

Having a criminal record can reduce the likelihood of getting a callback or job offer by 50 percent.

From The Daily Beast

For the Brogpas, transforming into a tourist attraction may offer their community a way to generate much-needed income.

From The Daily Beast

They feel that the system has few advantages to offer in return for the cost it entails upon them.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet how came it that even a low-caste mongrel of a Lascar should offer such an overt insult to a Brahmin!

From Project Gutenberg

We accepted the offer, so that they might see the difference between Christianity and their ungodliness.

From Project Gutenberg

Thinking it was a request for employment which he could not offer, Malcolm stuffed it carelessly into a pocket.

From Project Gutenberg

In the next place, as I can find no other persons who will come forward on my platform, I am bound to offer myself everywhere.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• action
• attempt
• bid
• overture