adjective B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

tender

TEHN-duh

Tender (adjective) means Gentle, loving, or showing warm affection. Example: “He gave her a tender kiss on the forehead.”

adjective

Gentle, loving, or showing warm affection.

"He gave her a tender kiss on the forehead."

"She spoke to the frightened child in a tender voice."

Sore or sensitive when touched.

"The bruise on her arm was still tender a week later."

Soft and easy to cut or chew, especially of meat.

"The steak was slow-cooked until perfectly tender."

noun

A formal offer or bid to supply goods or carry out work, especially for a contract.

"The construction firm submitted a tender for the new hospital wing."

verb

To formally offer or submit something, such as a resignation or a bid.

"She tendered her resignation after the disagreement with management."

How to use tender

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDepending on context: gentle and affectionate, sore to the touch, soft in texture, or a formal business offer/bid.

Common mistake

Legal tender means money that must be accepted as payment — it has nothing to do with gentleness or bids.

Common pairings

tender loving care submit a tender tender the resignation legal tender

Word forms

tenderer comparative, more tender comparative, tendered past tense, tendered past tense, tendered past tense, tenders plural, tenders plural, tenders singular, tenders singular, tenders singular, tenderest superlative, most tender superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “tender” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He gave her a _____ kiss on the forehead.

Etymology

The "soft, gentle" sense comes from Latin tener ("soft, delicate") via Old French tendre. The "offer, bid" sense is a separate word from Old French tendre ("to stretch out, offer"), from Latin tendere.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

View more →

gentle affectionate loving sore sensitive bid nesh offer

Related words

go very give play provide offer cold attempt

Rhymes for tender

ender gender fender bender render lender sender agender slender blender spender bigender

See all rhymes for tender →

Frequently asked questions

What does “tender” mean?

The word “tender” means gentle, loving, or showing warm affection. In plain terms, depending on context: gentle and affectionate, sore to the touch, soft in texture, or a formal business offer/bid.

How do you pronounce “tender”?

“Tender” is pronounced TEHN-duh (/ˈtɛn.dɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “tender” in a sentence?

Here is “tender” used in a sentence: “He gave her a tender kiss on the forehead.”

What is another word for “tender”?

Words with a similar meaning to “tender” include nesh and offer.

What part of speech is “tender”?

Depending on how it is used, “tender” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “tender” come from?

The word “tender” comes from Latin. The "soft, gentle" sense comes from Latin tener ("soft, delicate") via Old French tendre. The "offer, bid" sense is a separate word from Old French tendre ("to stretch out, offer"), from Latin tendere.

Is “tender” a common word?

“Tender” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “tender” have?

“Tender” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: gentle, loving, or showing warm affection.

What is the difference between tender and gentle?

Gentle describes a mild, careful manner or touch, while tender adds warmth and affection — tender words or a tender look express love, not just mildness. Tender also has meanings gentle lacks: sore when touched, soft and easy to chew (of meat), and a formal bid for a contract.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include tender:

Words that start with T

People also searched

go very give play provide offer cold attempt