# bidding

/ˈbɪdɪŋ/ (US) · /bˈɪdɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bidding
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. offering a price

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. a command or request

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

doing what someone else asks or orders you to do.

For teachers: 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.

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'.

## Examples

- The bidding for the painting started at one hundred dollars.
- After several rounds of intense bidding, the construction firm finally won the government contract.
- The young assistant spent his entire day doing the director's bidding, running errands and managing minor administrative tasks without a single word of complaint.

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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.