offer
O-fuh
Offer (verb) means to present something for someone to accept or refuse. Example: “The waiter offered us a choice of tea or coffee after the meal.”
verb
1
To present something for someone to accept or refuse.
"The waiter offered us a choice of tea or coffee after the meal."
"She offered him a cup of coffee."
"The company offered a full refund."
2
To express willingness to do something for someone.
"He offered to help carry the boxes upstairs."
"I offered to cook dinner so my friend could rest."
"Several neighbours offered to water the plants while we were away."
noun
1
A proposal, especially one involving a price, job, or deal.
"They made an offer on the house the same afternoon."
"She turned down the job offer to stay with her current company."
"The company sent her a written offer after the second interview."
How to use offer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo put something forward for someone to take or turn down, or the proposal itself.
Common pairings
offer a discount
make an offer
offer to help
a job offer
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Word forms
- Plural
- offers
- Third person singular
- offers
- Past tense
- offered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The waiter _____ us a choice of tea or coffee after the meal.
Etymology
From Old English offrian, "to offer or make a sacrifice", from Latin offerre, "to present, bring before".
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for offer
See all rhymes for offer →Frequently asked questions
What does “offer” mean?
The word “offer” means to present something for someone to accept or refuse. In plain terms, to put something forward for someone to take or turn down, or the proposal itself.
How do you pronounce “offer”?
“Offer” is pronounced O-fuh (/ˈɔfɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “offer” in a sentence?
Here is “offer” used in a sentence: “She offered him a cup of coffee.”
What part of speech is “offer”?
Depending on how it is used, “offer” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “offer” come from?
The word “offer” comes from Latin. From Old English offrian, "to offer or make a sacrifice", from Latin offerre, "to present, bring before".
Is “offer” a common word?
“Offer” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “offer” have?
“Offer” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to present something for someone to accept or refuse.
What is the difference between offer and give?
To give is to hand something over so the person now has it. To offer is only to present it, leaving the other person free to accept or refuse. If you offer a colleague coffee, they may say no; if you give them coffee, they already have it. Offering invites a choice; giving completes the transfer.
What is an example of offering something?
Holding out a plate of biscuits and saying "would you like one?" is offering. So is proposing a lower price to a seller, volunteering to help a neighbour, or presenting a job to a candidate. In each case you present something — an object, a price, help, or an opportunity — for the other person to accept or decline.
What is the difference between "offer" as a verb and as a noun?
As a verb, "offer" is the action of presenting something for acceptance ("they offered me the job"). As a noun, an "offer" is the thing presented — the proposal itself ("I accepted their offer"). The verb is what you do; the noun is what results, such as a job offer or a special offer.
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