Definitions
01to present something for acceptance
A2 · Elementary
v. to ask if someone would like to have something or if they want you to do something.
v. to present something to be either accepted or rejected; often used with a direct object or an infinitive clause.
日本語:申し出る、提供する※
“The hotel staff offered us a free drink while we waited for our room.”
“The company offered the candidate a generous relocation package to encourage her to accept the position in the overseas branch.”
Pitfall
He offered to me a drink.
He offered me a drink.
When 'offer' has two objects, the person usually comes first without 'to'. Alternatively, say 'He offered a drink to me'.
02to volunteer
B1 · Intermediate
v. to say that you are willing to do something for someone.
v. to express a willingness to perform an action or provide a service. Intransitive or followed by a to-infinitive.
日本語:申し出る※
“My neighbour offered to water my plants while I was away on holiday.”
“Several local businesses offered to sponsor the charity event, providing both financial support and volunteer staff for the weekend.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03to provide or make available
B1 · Intermediate
v. to provide a chance, an opportunity, or a service.
v. to provide or make available for use or consideration.
日本語:提供する※
“The new city park offers many activities for children and families.”
“The revised curriculum offers students the flexibility to specialise in digital media while maintaining a strong foundation in traditional art history.”
04religious sacrifice
B2 · Upper Intermediate Religion Formal
v. to give something to a god as a sign of respect or worship.
v. to present something to a deity as an act of worship, devotion, or sacrifice.
“The villagers offered fruit and flowers at the temple during the festival.”
“In many ancient cultures, priests would offer the first harvest to the gods to ensure continued prosperity for the community.”
05to align parts
C1 · Advanced Engineering Technical
v. to hold a part in place to see if it fits before fixing it.
v. to place a component in its intended position to check for fit or alignment before final assembly.
“You should offer the shelf up to the wall to check the height before drilling.”
“The technician carefully offered the replacement panel up to the fuselage to ensure the bolt holes aligned perfectly with the existing frame.”
Usage
Often used with the particle 'up' as in 'offer up'.
Synonyms
06a proposal or bid
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. a suggestion or a price that you are willing to pay for something.
n. an expression of readiness to do or give something; specifically, a bid or a proposal in a commercial or personal context.
“We made an offer on the house, but the owners wanted more money.”
“After weeks of negotiation, the firm submitted a formal offer to acquire its smaller competitor for fifty million dollars.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
07legal invitation
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Technical
n. a formal promise to enter a contract if the other person agrees.
n. a clear expression of willingness to enter into a binding contract under specific terms, which becomes legally enforceable upon acceptance.
“The court ruled that the advertisement was not a legal offer but an invitation to treat.”
“A valid offer must be communicated clearly to the offeree and contain sufficiently definite terms to create a binding agreement.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “offer” in context.
Etymology
From Middle English offer, from Old English offrian (“offer or make a sacrifice”) rather than from Old French offre (“offer”), from offrir (“to offer”), from Latin offerō (“to present, bring before”). Compare North Frisian offer (“sacrifice, donation, fee”), Dutch offer (“offering, sacrifice”), German Opfer (“victim, sacrifice”), Danish offer (“victim, sacrifice”), Icelandic offr (“offering”). See verb below.
From Middle English offren, offrien. In the religious senses inherited from Old English offrian (“to offer, sacrifice, bring an oblation”); otherwise from Old French ofrir. Both ultimately from Latin offerō (“to present, bestow, bring before”, literally “to bring to”), from Latin ob + ferō (“bring, carry”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- (“to carry, bear”), later reinforced by Old French offrir (“to offer”). Cognate with Old Frisian offria (“to offer”), Old Dutch offrōn (“to offer”), German opfern (“to offer”), Old Norse offra (“to offer”). More at ob-, bear.
From off + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/offer
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0