bid

¹ American  

[bid] / bɪd /

verb (used with object)

bade, bad, bid, bidden, bid, bid, bidding

1. to command; order; direct.

   to bid them depart.

   Synonyms:

   enjoin, require, charge

2. to express (a greeting, farewell, benediction, or wish).

   to bid good night.

3. Commerce. to offer (a certain sum) as the price one will pay or charge.

   They bid $25,000 and got the contract.

   Synonyms:

   proffer, tender, offer

4. Cards. to enter a bid of (a given quantity or suit).

   to bid two no-trump.

5. to summon by invitation; invite.

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verb (used without object)

bade, bad, bid, bidden, bid, bid, bidding

1. to command; order; direct.

   I will do as you bid.

2. to make a bid.

   She bid at the auction for the old chair.

noun

1. an act or instance of bidding.

   Synonyms:

   proffer, proposal, offer

2. Cards.

   1. an offer to make a specified number of points or to take a specified number of tricks.

   2. the amount of such an offer.

   3. the turn of a person to bid.

3. an invitation.

   a bid to join the club.

4. an attempt to attain some goal or purpose.

   a bid for election.

5. Also called bid price.  Stock Exchange. the highest price a prospective buyer is willing to pay for a security at a given moment.

verb phrase

1. bid up to increase the market price of by increasing bids.

2. bid in to overbid all offers for (property) at an auction in order to retain ownership.

idioms

1. bid fair. fair.

bid ² American  

[bid] / bɪd /

verb

Archaic.

1. past participle of bide.

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b.i.d. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. (in prescriptions) twice a day.

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B.I.D. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. Bachelor of Industrial Design.

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bid ¹ British  

/ bɪd /

verb

1. to offer (an amount) in attempting to buy something, esp in competition with others as at an auction

2. commerce to respond to an offer by a seller by stating (the more favourable terms) on which one is willing to make a purchase

3. (tr) to say (a greeting, blessing, etc)

   to bid farewell

4. to order; command

   do as you are bid!

5. to attempt to attain power, etc

6. (tr) to invite; ask kindly

   she bade him sit down

7. bridge to declare in the auction before play how many tricks one expects to make

8. to resist boldly

9. to seem probable

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noun

1. 1. an offer of a specified amount, as at an auction

   2. the price offered

2. commerce

   1. a statement by a buyer, in response to an offer by a seller, of the more favourable terms that would be acceptable

   2. the price or other terms so stated

3. an attempt, esp an attempt to attain power

4. bridge

   1. the number of tricks a player undertakes to make

   2. a player's turn to make a bid

5. short for bid price

b.i.d. ² British  

abbreviation

1. bis in die

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Other Word Forms

• bidder noun

Etymology

Origin of bid¹

before 900; Middle English bidden, Old English biddan to beg, ask; cognate with Old Frisian bidda, Old Saxon biddian, Old High German bittan ( German bitten ), Old Norse bithja, Gothic bidjan; all < Germanic *bid-ja- (< Indo-European *bhidh- ) command, akin to Greek peíthein to persuade, inspire with trust, English bide

Origin of b.i.d.³

From Latin bis in diē

Explanation

If you make the winning bid on an item, you offer the highest price and get to take it home. Congratulations, and enjoy your new paper weight! Bid comes from an Old English word meaning “to offer,” which is right in line with its meaning today. To bid is the act of offering a bid, or more generally to try to get something. With several companies bidding for your services, you have a lot to consider. Tip: go where the weather's warmest.

Example Sentences

William Miller, an English artilleryman, joined the Peruvian fight against imperial Spain and became a pivotal figure in the nation’s bid for independence.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Netflix beat first-quarter expectations, driven by a $2.8 billion breakup fee after abandoning its bid for Warner Bros.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

Those vociferous, flat-out denials had been enough to sway the politicians and union leaders who endorsed Swalwell’s gubernatorial bid, until the weight of evidence made Swalwell’s assertions untenable.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

The announcement came as Netflix reported a 16% increase in revenue for the first quarter of 2026, its first set of results since its failed bid for Warner Bros Discovery.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Each new auction seemed to surpass the previous one for the record of the highest single bid and the total of millions collected.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

Related Words

• advance
• offer
• price
• proposal
• request
• suggestion