tender

¹ American  

[ten-der] / ˈtɛn dər /

adjective

tenderer, tenderest

1. soft or delicate in substance; not hard or tough.

   a tender steak.

2. weak or delicate in constitution; not strong or hardy.

3. (of plants) unable to withstand freezing temperatures.

4. young or immature.

   children of tender age.

5. delicate or soft in quality.

   tender blue.

6. delicate, soft, or gentle.

   the tender touch of her hand.

7. easily moved to sympathy or compassion; kind.

   a tender heart.

8. affectionate or loving; sentimental or amatory.

   a tender glance.

9. acutely or painfully sensitive.

   a tender bruise.

10. easily distressed; readily made uneasy.

    a tender conscience.

11. yielding readily to force or pressure; easily broken; fragile.

    These roofing shingles are too old and tender.

12. of a delicate or ticklish nature; requiring careful or tactful handling.

    a tender subject.

13. considerate or careful; wary or reluctant (usually followed byof ).

    He was tender of imposing his views on others.

14. Nautical. crank.

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noun

1. Usually tenders

   1. a strip of chicken meat loosely attached to the underside of each breast half, along the breastbone.

   2. a boneless and skinless strip of chicken cut from the breast or thigh.

verb (used with object)

1. to make tender.

   He tendered the meat in his special marinade before throwing it on the grill.

2. Archaic. to regard or treat tenderly.

tender ² American  

[ten-der] / ˈtɛn dər /

verb (used with object)

1. to present formally for acceptance; make formal offer of.

   to tender one's resignation.

2. to offer or proffer.

3. Law. to offer, as money or goods, in payment of a debt or other obligation, especially in exact accordance with the terms of the law and of the obligation.

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verb (used without object)

1. to make or submit a bid (often followed byfor ).

noun

1. the act of tendering; an offer of something for acceptance.

   Synonyms:

   proffer, proposal

2. something tendered or offered, especially money, as in payment.

3. Commerce. an offer made in writing by one party to another to execute certain work, supply certain commodities, etc., at a given cost; bid.

4. Law. an offer, as of money or goods, in payment or satisfaction of a debt or other obligation.

tender ³ American  

[ten-der] / ˈtɛn dər /

noun

1. a person who tends; a person who attends to or takes charge of someone or something.

2. an auxiliary ship employed to attend one or more other ships, as for supplying provisions.

3. a dinghy carried or towed by a yacht.

4. Railroads. a car attached to a steam locomotive for carrying fuel and water.

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tender ¹ British  

/ ˈtɛndə /

adjective

1. easily broken, cut, or crushed; soft; not tough

   a tender steak

2. easily damaged; vulnerable or sensitive

   a tender youth

   at a tender age

3. having or expressing warm and affectionate feelings

   a tender smile

4. kind, merciful, or sympathetic

   a tender heart

5. arousing warm feelings; touching

   a tender memory

6. gentle and delicate

   a tender breeze

7. requiring care in handling; ticklish

   a tender question

8. painful or sore

   a tender wound

9. sensitive to moral or spiritual feelings

   a tender conscience

10. careful or protective

    tender of one's emotions

11. (of a sailing vessel) easily keeled over by a wind; crank Compare stiff

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verb

1. rare (tr)

   1. to make tender

   2. to treat tenderly

tender ² British  

/ ˈtɛndə /

verb

1. (tr) to give, present, or offer

   to tender one's resignation

   tender a bid

2. to make a formal offer or estimate for (a job or contract)

3. (tr) law to offer (money or goods) in settlement of a debt or claim

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noun

1. the act or an instance of tendering; offer

2. commerce a formal offer to supply specified goods or services at a stated cost or rate

3. something, esp money, used as an official medium of payment

   legal tender

tender ³ British  

/ ˈtɛndə /

noun

1. a small boat, such as a dinghy, towed or carried by a yacht or ship

2. a vehicle drawn behind a steam locomotive to carry the fuel and water

3. an ancillary vehicle used to carry supplies, spare parts, etc, for a mobile operation, such as an outside broadcast

4. a person who tends

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tender Idioms  

1. see leave to someone's tender mercies.

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Synonym Usage

See offer.

Other Word Forms

• self-tenderness
  noun
• tenderer
  noun
• tenderness
  noun
• tenderable
  adjective
• tenderly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of tender¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, variant of tendre, from Old French, from Latin tenerum, accusative of tener “tender”

Origin of tender²

First recorded in 1535–45; earlier tendre, noun use of Anglo-French tendre “to extend, offer”; see tend ¹

Origin of tender³

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English; originally a variant of attender; see tend ², -er ¹

Explanation

If you're tender, it means you're fragile, sensitive, easily bruised or gentle. Young, easily cut beef and a sentimental heart can both be called tender. The many meanings attributed to tender developed over time. In the early 13th century, the word meant soft or easily injured. About a hundred years later, its meaning expanded to include kind and loving. Skip forward another century, and tender could also imply a lack of maturity.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tender tenderer tenderest

Bourdain’s writing is far more tender and interested in other people than “Tony” ever is.

From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026

The pop star’s new album is a darker, moodier follow-up to 2024’s tender “Eternal Sunshine.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026

It has been described by Blunt Magazine's Jake Fitzpatrick, external as "stormy, tender and anthemic" and a "love letter to the kind of songwriting that knows when to burn slow".

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

The tender will support up to seven AI facilities, known as gigafactories, the commission said, adding that this would be split between one phase for establishing facilities and a second to build them out.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

Big, dark blue eyes are set widely apart, and are quick and tender or stern with the man’s moods.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

Because they are made with un-hydrogenated fats that are liquid at room temperature, they have a moister, tenderer texture than butter cakes.

From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2021

But there have always been many Manets, and even the later, tenderer Manet coexists with an artist of deep political engagement and historical sweep.

From New York Times ● Aug. 1, 2019

Out of the darkness of these ugly times, and the tenderer moments conjured in a family of seven children, Butterworth weaves an enthralling tapestry of melodrama, wryness and suspense.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 21, 2018

Make your chicken work for you Two big benefits of meat-pounding: tenderer, speedier meat.

From Slate ● Jul. 3, 2018

I claim for myself the possession of no tenderer nor truer feelings than other lads, but I know that a queen might have accepted the heart-homage which I paid to Lucy Gerard.

From Lost Sir Massingberd, v. 1/2 A Romance of Real Life by James Payn

The tenderest connection may just be between Cyrano and Will Hochman’s Christian, whose callowness isn’t quite what it seems.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2024

For the tenderest texture, slice the steak thinly and against the grain.

From Washington Times ● Jun. 27, 2023

Asked about his college town, Kuzma closes his eyes and purses his lips as though he has just had a bite of the tenderest, most buttery steak he has ever eaten.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 2, 2022

The first notes of the suite he heard were from “Psalm,” its last movement, the tenderest part: a praise poem, addressed directly to God, that Coltrane had set to music and played through his saxophone.

From New York Times ● Oct. 19, 2021

So the year rolled round, and at midsummer there came to Meg a new experience, the deepest and tenderest of a woman’s life.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

Related Words

• gentle
• mild
• mushy
• poignant
• romantic
• sentimental
• soft
• thoughtful
• touching
• warm