BID
bihd
BID (verb) means to offer a specific amount of money for something, especially at an auction. Example: “She bid two hundred dollars for the vintage lamp.”
verb
1
To offer a specific amount of money for something, especially at an auction.
"She bid two hundred dollars for the vintage lamp."
"Several contractors bid on the renovation project."
noun
1
An offer of a price, or a formal offer to carry out a piece of work.
"Their bid for the contract came in lower than the competitors'."
2
An attempt or effort to achieve something.
"It was his last bid for the championship title."
How to use BID
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn offer of a price, or more broadly, an attempt to win or achieve something.
Common pairings
place a bid
winning bid
bid for power
a bid to succeed
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Word forms
- Plural
- bids
- Third person singular
- bids
- Past tense
- bade, bad, bidden
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ two hundred dollars for the vintage lamp.
Etymology
Merges two old English verbs — one meaning "to command or ask" (as in "bid you welcome") and one meaning "to offer a price" — which is why "bid" today covers both greeting/commanding and auction senses.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “BID” mean?
The word “BID” means to offer a specific amount of money for something, especially at an auction. In plain terms, an offer of a price, or more broadly, an attempt to win or achieve something.
How do you pronounce “BID”?
“BID” is pronounced bihd (/bɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “BID” in a sentence?
Here is “BID” used in a sentence: “She bid two hundred dollars for the vintage lamp.”
What part of speech is “BID”?
Depending on how it is used, “BID” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “BID” come from?
The word “BID” comes from Old English. Merges two old English verbs — one meaning "to command or ask" (as in "bid you welcome") and one meaning "to offer a price" — which is why "bid" today covers both greeting/commanding and auction senses.
Is “BID” a common word?
“BID” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “BID” have?
“BID” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to offer a specific amount of money for something, especially at an auction.
What is the difference between a bid and an offer?
The terms overlap, but a bid is usually a stated amount you are willing to pay, especially competing against others at an auction. An offer is broader and can involve negotiation, as when buying a house. Every bid is a kind of offer, but not every offer is a formal bid.
What does it mean to bid at an auction?
To bid at an auction means to state the price you are willing to pay for an item, competing against other buyers. Each new bid must normally beat the last. The highest bid when the auction closes wins, and that bidder pays the amount they offered.
What is an example of bidding?
At an auction, one person might bid fifty pounds for a painting, and another then bids sixty. Online, buyers bid against each other until the sale ends. In business, firms bid for a contract by submitting the price and terms on which they would do the work.
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