# bid

/ˈbɪd/ (US) · /bˈɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bid
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to offer a price

verb · CEFR B2

to offer a certain amount of money for something, especially at an auction.

For teachers: to offer a specific price for an item or service, particularly in a competitive auction or tendering process.

- Several collectors started to bid for the rare painting as soon as the auction began.
- The construction firm decided to bid for the government contract despite the strict environmental requirements and tight profit margins.

Usage: The past tense is 'bid' in financial contexts, but 'bade' in literary contexts.

### 2. to say a greeting

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal · Literary

to say a greeting or a goodbye to someone.

For teachers: to utter or express a greeting, farewell, or salutation.

- He bade his friends farewell before boarding the train for his long journey.
- The host bade his guests a pleasant evening, standing by the mahogany doors as the last of the carriages departed.

Usage: Often uses the past tense 'bade'.

### 3. to command

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to tell someone to do something.

For teachers: to issue a command or instruction to someone.

- The queen bade the messenger wait in the hall until the letter was finished.
- The general bade his troops remain silent as they approached the enemy's perimeter under the cover of darkness.

Usage: Usually followed by an object and an infinitive without 'to'.

### 4. an offer of money

noun · CEFR B2

an offer to pay a particular amount of money for something.

For teachers: an offer of a price, especially at an auction or as part of a business proposal.

- The highest bid for the old car was much lower than the owner expected.
- The company submitted a competitive bid for the infrastructure project, highlighting their previous experience with large-scale urban developments.

### 5. an attempt

noun · CEFR B2

an attempt to achieve or get something.

For teachers: an attempt or effort to achieve a specific goal or win a position of power.

- The athlete failed in her bid to win a third gold medal.
- The senator launched a bold bid for the presidency, focusing his campaign on economic reform and healthcare accessibility.

### 6. prison sentence

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang

a period of time spent in prison.

For teachers: a term of imprisonment.

- He just finished a five-year bid and is looking for a fresh start.
- After serving a ten-year bid for armed robbery, he found it difficult to reintegrate into a society that had changed significantly.

## Examples

- She made a high bid for the painting.
- The construction company submitted a competitive bid to win the contract for the new city bridge.
- The senator's unsuccessful bid for the presidency was marked by a series of strategic missteps that alienated her core constituency in the final weeks of the campaign.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.