What does "bidding" mean?

1. (offering a price) the act of offering a certain amount of money for something, especially at an auction. 2. (a command or request) doing what someone else asks or orders you to do.

How do you use "bidding"?

almost always used in the phrase 'do someone's bidding'

bidding

US //ˈbɪdɪŋ// UK //bˈɪdɪŋ// bid·ding

1 offering a price (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the act of offering a certain amount of money for something, especially at an auction.

the act of making an offer of a price for an item or service, typically in a competitive auction or tender process.

Example

The bidding for the rare painting started at five thousand dollars.

Example

The bidding for the government contract was fierce, with several international firms submitting highly competitive proposals.
- auctioning
- tendering
2 a command or request (n.)
C1 Advanced Literary

doing what someone else asks or orders you to do.

the act of carrying out a command, request, or summons from another person.

Example

The assistant was always ready to do his boss's bidding.

Example

The courtiers were expected to do the king's bidding without question, regardless of their personal opinions on the matter.

Usage

almost always used in the phrase 'do someone's bidding'

Teacher's tip

This sense is mostly found in literature or formal storytelling; in everyday life, people usually say 'do what someone asks'.

Last updated June 20, 2026