# tender

/ˈtɛndɝ/ (US) · /tˈɛndɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. gentle and kind

adjective · CEFR B1

showing gentleness, kindness, or love.

For teachers: expressing or characterized by gentleness, affection, or sentimental solicitude.

- He gave his daughter a tender hug before she went to school.
- The letter was written in a tender tone, reflecting the deep affection the two friends had shared over several decades.

### 2. easy to chew

adjective · CEFR B1

soft and easy to cut or eat, especially meat.

For teachers: of food, easily chewed or cut; not tough or fibrous.

- The steak was so tender that you could cut it with a butter knife.
- Slow-cooking the brisket at a low temperature for eight hours ensures the muscle fibres break down until the meat is perfectly tender.

### 3. painful to touch

adjective · CEFR B2

feeling sore or painful when someone touches it.

For teachers: sensitive to touch or pressure, typically due to injury or inflammation.

- My ankle is still a bit tender after I tripped yesterday.
- The patient reported that the area around the incision remained tender, though the sharp pain had subsided since the surgery.

### 4. a formal bid

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a formal offer to do a job or provide goods for a specific price.

For teachers: a formal written offer to carry out work, supply goods, or buy an asset at a stated price.

- The city council invited companies to submit a tender for the new bridge project.
- The construction firm spent weeks preparing their tender, ensuring every technical specification and cost estimate met the government's strict requirements.

### 5. payment

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

something used as money or a way to pay.

For teachers: anything offered as a means of payment; most commonly seen in the phrase 'legal tender'.

- In many countries, coins and banknotes are the only form of legal tender.
- The shop refused to accept the damaged banknote, arguing that it no longer qualified as valid legal tender under national regulations.

### 6. a small boat

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a small boat that carries people or supplies between a big ship and the shore.

For teachers: a small vessel used to attend a larger one, typically for transporting stores or passengers.

- The cruise ship was too big for the small harbour, so we took a tender to the beach.
- The yacht's tender was deployed to ferry the guests from the offshore anchorage to the private jetty for the evening gala.

### 7. to offer formally

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to offer something officially, like your resignation or a payment.

For teachers: to offer or present something formally for acceptance. Transitive; typically takes a direct object like 'resignation' or 'payment'.

- The manager decided to tender his resignation after the company was sold.
- The defendant attempted to tender the full amount of the debt to the court, hoping to avoid further litigation costs.

## Examples

- The construction company submitted a tender for the new bridge project.
- The city council invited local firms to submit a tender for the renovation of the historic library.
- After reviewing every competitive tender, the board selected the contractor who offered the most comprehensive safety plan alongside a realistic budget, rather than simply choosing the lowest bidder.

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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.