bidding

[bid-ing]

noun

1. command; summons; invitation.

   I went there at his bidding.

2. bids bid collectively, or a period during which bids bid are made or received.

   The bidding began furiously.

3. a bid. bide.

bidding

/ ˈbɪdɪŋ /

noun

1. an order; command (often in the phrases do or follow the bidding of , at someone's bidding )

2. an invitation; summons

3. the act of making bids, as at an auction or in bridge

4. bridge a group of bids considered collectively, esp those made on a particular deal

Word History and Origins

Origin of bidding¹

Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; bid ¹, -ing ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. do someone's bidding, to submit to someone's orders; perform services for someone.

   After he was promoted to vice president at the bank, he expected everyone around him to do his bidding.

Example Sentences

And former Barcelona youth player Xavier Vilajoana, who reportedly is bidding to be its next president, called on the club to clarify how the deal had come about in a post on X.

Read more on BBC

In addition to capping the amount of funds that can be spent on permanent housing, HUD is requiring more total homeless dollars be subject to competitive bidding.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The bidding war for his services means that whatever Kiffin chooses, he looks set to finish this week as the highest-paid coach in college football history.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Investors have been bidding up the price of Treasury bonds this year, slashing the yield, as their confidence has grown that the Federal Reserve is determined to squeeze inflation out of the system.

Read more on MarketWatch

After an electric 20-minute bidding war, Barker brought his hammer down to an eruption of applause.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• auction 
• tender