English Reference

Word

bidding

Phoneticsbid·ding

US/ˈbɪdɪŋ/

UK/bˈɪdɪŋ/

Definitions

01offering a price

B2

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

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

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

“The bidding for the government contract was fierce, with several international firms submitting highly competitive proposals.”

Synonyms

auctioningtendering

02a command or request

C1

n. doing what someone else asks or orders you to do.

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

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

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

Literary

Usage

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

Teaching tip

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

Real-World Examples

“Pogacar, bidding to complete his Grand Tour collection by winning the Vuelta ⁠for the first time, was always near the front of ​the pack with ​the Slovenian’s team setting the pace.”
The Guardian · 24 Aug 2026
“Al-Hilal are not in the market for only one England striker though, they are bidding for two.”
The Guardian · 19 Aug 2026

Word family

bidVerbbidderNounbiddingNoun

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/bidding

English Reference