offer

[ aw-fer, of-er ]

/ ˈɔ fər, ˈɒf ər /

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See synonyms for: offer / offered / offering / offers on Thesaurus.com

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR offer

2 give, move, propose.

See synonyms for offer on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR offer

1 withdraw, withhold.

20 refusal, denial.

See antonyms for offer on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of offer

First recorded before 900; Middle English offren,Old English offrian “to present in worship,” from Latin offerre, equivalent to of-of- + ferre “to bring”; see bear¹

synonym study 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM offer

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-offered, adjectiveun·of·fered, adjective

Words nearby offer

offended, offender, offense, offenseless, offensive, offer, offer document, offeree, offering, offering price, offeror

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use offer in a sentence

The bank put the house up for auction, but it didn’t receive any offers it found acceptable.
The Mystery House: How a Suspicious Multimillion Dollar Real Estate Deal Is Connected to California’s Deadliest Fire|by Scott Morris, Bay City News Foundation|August 26, 2020|ProPublica
Here’s what’s on offer if you’re eager to return to movieland.
Are these big discounts enough to get you back into a movie theater?|dzanemorris|August 20, 2020|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.
Departure from convention—mom, baseball, the postal worker, and patriotism|jakemeth|August 19, 2020|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.
These are the states that accepted Trump’s offer for $300 enhanced unemployment benefits|Lance Lambert|August 18, 2020|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.
‘There’s no revenue on it’: Why publishers aren’t prioritizing Instagram Reels|Lara O'Reilly|August 13, 2020|Digiday
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
As a white, educated, Western, middle-class male, I possess most of the unearned privilege the world has to offer.
In 2015, Let’s Try for More Compassion|Gene Robinson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Having a criminal record can reduce the likelihood of getting a callback or job offer by 50 percent.
His First Day Out Of Jail After 40 Years: Adjusting To Life Outside|Justin Rohrlich|January 3, 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
They feel that the system has few advantages to offer in return for the cost it entails upon them.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
Yet how came it that even a low-caste mongrel of a Lascar should offer such an overt insult to a Brahmin!
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
We accepted the offer, so that they might see the difference between Christianity and their ungodliness.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Thinking it was a request for employment which he could not offer, Malcolm stuffed it carelessly into a pocket.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
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.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, November 3, 1894|Various

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 forms of offer

offerer 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

offer

OTHER WORDS FOR offer

OPPOSITES FOR offer

Origin of offer

synonym study for offer

OTHER WORDS FROM offer

Words nearby offer

Words related to offer

How to use offer in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for offer (1 of 2)

Derived forms of offer

Word Origin for offer

British Dictionary definitions for offer (2 of 2)