bid
bid Lexical Profile
bid Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An offer of a specific price for something, especially at an auction, or a formal proposal to undertake work or supply goods at a stated cost.
"The construction firm submitted the lowest bid for the bridge renovation project."
An earnest attempt or effort to achieve, win, or obtain something.
"She launched an ambitious bid for the party leadership last autumn."
In card games such as bridge, a player's statement of the number of tricks they undertake to win.
"His opening bid of two spades signaled a strong hand to his partner."
• verb
To offer a certain price for something, especially at an auction, or to propose a price for performing a contract.
"Several collectors plan to bid on the rare manuscript at tomorrow's auction."
To make an effort or attempt to achieve or obtain something.
"The city will bid to host the international athletics championship in four years."
To utter a greeting, farewell, or wish to someone (usually with past tense 'bade' and past participle 'bidden').
"He paused at the doorway to bid his hosts a warm farewell."
To command, order, or invite someone to do something (literary or archaic, with past tense 'bade' and past participle 'bidden').
"The monarch bade the messenger enter the hall and deliver the news."
Word Nuance & Usage
The past tense and past participle depend on the sense: for offering a price or making an attempt, both are 'bid' (e.g., "She has bid on the house"); for uttering a greeting or commanding, the traditional past tense is 'bade' and the past participle is 'bidden' (though 'bid' is increasingly used in modern English).
• Rhymes for bid
Word Origin & Etymology
Reflects a Middle English merger of two distinct Old English verbs: 'bēodan' (to offer, proclaim, or command) and 'biddan' (to ask, entreat, or pray).