offer

[ aw-fer, of-er ]

/ ˈɔ fər, ˈɒf ər /

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verb (used with object)

to present for acceptance or rejection; proffer: He offered me a cigarette.

to propose or put forward for consideration: to offer a suggestion.

to propose or volunteer (to do something): She offered to accompany me.

to make a show of intention (to do something): We did not offer to go first.

to give, make, or promise: She offered no response.

to present solemnly as an act of worship or devotion, as to God, a deity or a saint; sacrifice.

to present for sale: He offered the painting to me at a reduced price.

to tender or bid as a price: to offer ten dollars for a radio.

to attempt or threaten to do, engage in, or inflict: to offer battle.

to put forth; exert: to offer resistance.

to present to sight or notice.

to introduce or present for exhibition or performance.

to render (homage, thanks, etc.).

to present or volunteer (oneself) to someone as a spouse.

verb (used without object)

to present itself; occur: Whenever an opportunity offered, he slipped off to town.

to present something as an act of worship or devotion; sacrifice.

to make a proposal or suggestion.

to suggest oneself to someone for marriage; propose.

Archaic. to make an attempt (followed by at).

noun

an act or instance of offering: an offer of help.

the condition of being offered: an offer for sale.

something offered.

a proposal or bid to give or pay something as the price of something else; bid: an offer of $90,000 for the house.

Law. a proposal that requires only acceptance in order to create a contract.

an attempt or endeavor.

a show of intention.

a proposal of marriage.

Nearby words

Origin of offer

before 900; Middle English offren, Old English offrian to present in worship < Latin offerre, equivalent to of- of- + ferre to bring, bear¹

SYNONYMS FOR offer

1 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.

2 give, move, propose.

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ANTONYMS FOR offer

1 withdraw, withhold.

20 refusal, denial.

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Related forms

of·fer·a·ble, adjectiveof·fer·er, of·fer·or, nounnon·of·fer, nounpre·of·fer, noun, verb (used with object)

re·of·fer, verb, nounself-of·fered, adjectiveun·of·fered, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for offer

Some seventy-plus countries currently offer some paternity leave or parental leave days reserved for the father.
How Good Dads Can Change the World|Gary Barker, PhD, Michael Kaufman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I will turn my nose up when you offer me the rest of some delicious pastry that you nibbled on.
Why My Norovirus Panic Makes Me Sick|Lizzie Crocker|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
For the Brogpas, transforming into a tourist attraction may offer their community a way to generate much-needed income.
The Himalayas’ Hidden Aryans|Nina Strochlic|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
To be a parent is to be able to offer truly unconditional love.
Dear Leelah, We Will Fight On For You: A Letter to a Dead Trans Teen|Parker Molloy|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST

She wanted to know what happened over five years, or even 10, but the scientific literature had little to offer.
Why Your New Year’s Diet Will Fail|Carrie Arnold|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is wjib for every one to offer sacrifice for himself, but it is not a wjib order that he should do it for his children.
The Faith of Islam|Edward Sell
One of them, a very popular and well-to-do gentleman, made her an offer of marriage.
A Little Girl in Old Washington|Amanda M. Douglas
I now come to offer you a heart which has been entirely yours, Madam, since first we met in the desert.'
The Grey Fairy Book|Various
Instinctively she knew that in that eleventh hour she must offer all she had.
The Safety Curtain, and Other Stories|Ethel M. Dell
And it was because of this and because of my last promise to him that your offer shocked me; I ask your pardon for my rudeness.
Melomaniacs|James Huneker

British Dictionary definitions for offer (1 of 2)

offer

/ (ˈɒfə) /

verb

to present or proffer (something, someone, oneself, etc) for acceptance or rejection

(tr) to present as part of a requirementshe offered English as a second subject

(tr) to provide or make accessiblethis stream offers the best fishing

(intr) to present itselfif an opportunity should offer

(tr) to show or express willingness or the intention (to do something)

(tr) to put forward (a proposal, opinion, etc) for consideration

(tr) to present for sale

(tr) to propose as payment; bid or tender

(when tr, often foll by up) to present (a prayer, sacrifice, etc) as or during an act of worship

(tr) to show readiness forto offer battle

(intr) archaic to make a proposal of marriage

(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

something, such as a proposal or bid, that is offered

the act of offering or the condition of being offered

contract law a proposal made by one person that will create a binding contract if accepted unconditionally by the person to whom it is madeSee also acceptance

a proposal of marriage

short for offer price

on offer for sale at a reduced price

Derived Formsofferer or offeror, noun

Word Origin for offer

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

British Dictionary definitions for offer (2 of 2)

Offer

/ (ˈɒfə) /

n acronym for (formerly, in Britain)

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for offer (1 of 2)

offer

Old English ofrian "to offer, show, exhibit, sacrifice, bring an oblation," from Latin offerre "to present, bestow, bring before" (in Late Latin "to present in worship"), from ob "to" (see ob-) + ferre "to bring, to carry" (see infer). The Latin word was borrowed elsewhere in Germanic, e.g. Old Frisian offria, Middle Dutch offeren, Old Norse offra. Non-religious sense reinforced by Old French offrir "to offer," from Latin offerre. Related: Offered; offering.

Word Origin and History for offer (1 of 2)

offer

early 15c., from Old French ofre "act of offering; offer, proposition" (12c.), verbal noun from offrir (see offer (v.)). The native noun formation is offering.

offer

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of offer

Examples from the Web for offer

British Dictionary definitions for offer (1 of 2)

offer

verb

noun

Word Origin for offer

British Dictionary definitions for offer (2 of 2)

Offer

n acronym for (formerly, in Britain)

Word Origin and History for offer (1 of 2)

offer

Word Origin and History for offer (1 of 2)

offer