bid
bid — verb
1. to name the sum you are willing to pay in order to buy something, often in a sal
to name the sum you are willing to pay in order to buy something, often in a sale where several buyers compete.
Lena bid five hundred dollars for the old camera at noon.
bid + amount + for + noun
Zane bid the seller two thousand dollars for the fishing boat.
can take two objects: bid somebody an amount
Two collectors kept bidding on the painting until the room went quiet.
bidding on + item in an auction scene
No one else bid after Rosa raised the offer to eight thousand.
The museum bid against three dealers for the sailor's map.
bid against + rival
- bid against a rival
- bid for a painting
- bid the seller $2,000
- bid online
- withdraw
to stop taking part in the sale
Grammar Patterns
bid + amount + for + noun
bid + person + amount + for + noun
bid against + person
bid on + item
Usage Note
Common in auctions and sales. The amount is often the direct object, and the thing being bought usually follows with 'for'.
Common Mistakes
2. to put forward a price for doing a job or supplying something, while other peopl
to put forward a price for doing a job or supplying something, while other people or companies are trying to win the same work.
Three builders bid for the new library in Kaohsiung.
bid for + contract or job
Our firm bid $80,000 to repair the old bridge after the storm.
bid + amount + to + verb
Only local companies were invited to bid for the school meals contract.
The city asked six teams to bid on the airport project.
North American English often uses bid on
- bid for a contract
- bid on a project
- competitive bid
- successful bid
- tender
more formal; common in official and legal contexts
- quote
can mean giving a price, but does not always imply competition
- submit a proposal
broader and often used when price is only one part of the offer
- withdraw
to stop competing for the contract
Grammar Patterns
bid for + contract
bid on + project
bid + amount + to + verb
Usage Note
Usually used about companies, builders, or teams, not ordinary shoppers. Distinguish from sense 1: here the goal is to win work, not to buy an item.
Common Mistakes
3. to make a strong attempt to get, keep, or achieve something.
to make a strong attempt to get, keep, or achieve something.
Jade is bidding to lead the student council next year.
bid to + verb
Several cities bid to host the summer games.
Her party is bidding for control of the town council.
bid for + goal
After two losses, the club still bids to reach the final.
The actor is bidding for an award after two strong films.
- bid to host
- bid to retain
- bid for control
- bid for an award
- give up
to stop trying for the goal
Grammar Patterns
bid to + verb
bid for + noun
Usage Note
Common in newspaper and broadcast English. It often suggests a public, serious effort rather than a small private try.
Common Mistakes
4. in certain card games, to announce your intended score or number of tricks befor
in certain card games, to announce your intended score or number of tricks before the hand begins.
Nora bid three hearts before the cards were played.
bid + suit
At the club, players bid carefully when they hold weak hands.
Grandpa bid low, then surprised everyone with the final score.
bid low / bid high in card play
In bridge class, Mei bid the suit her partner had shown.
- bid three hearts
- bid low
- bid high
- bid the suit
- pass
to choose not to make a bid
Grammar Patterns
bid + number
bid + suit
Usage Note
Restricted to card-game contexts such as bridge. Distinguish from sense 1: the thing stated is a game commitment, not money.
5. in formal or old literary use, to greet a person with words such as welcome or f
in formal or old literary use, to greet a person with words such as welcome or farewell, or to command that person how to act.
The host bade the guests welcome at the garden gate.
bid somebody welcome
Before boarding the train, Mina bade her sister farewell.
bid somebody farewell
At sunset, Grandma bade the children good night by the fire.
The priest bid the worried crowd be calm during the delay.
formal pattern: bid somebody do something
- bid farewell
- bid welcome
- bid good night
- bid somebody be seated
Grammar Patterns
bid somebody farewell
bid somebody welcome
bid somebody do something
Usage Note
Now mainly literary, ceremonial, or old-fashioned. In everyday English, people usually say 'say goodbye', 'welcome', or 'tell someone to do something' instead.
Common Mistakes
what am I bid?
idiomsaid by an auctioneer to ask how much anyone is willing to offer for an item.
The auctioneer lifted the silver bowl and called, "What am I bid?"
With the painting under the bright lamp, she asked, "What am I bid for this one?"
bid — noun
1. the sum of money someone says they will pay in order to buy something.
the sum of money someone says they will pay in order to buy something.
The highest bid for the violin came from a buyer in Seoul.
highest bid for + item
Her opening bid was far below the farmer's asking price.
opening bid
The online sale ended when no later bid appeared.
Our bid on the beach house was accepted that evening.
bid on + property
After ten bids, the final bid reached twelve million dollars.
- opening bid
- highest bid
- winning bid
- final bid
Grammar Patterns
a bid for + noun
make a bid
place a bid
Usage Note
Common in auctions, property sales, and other competitive buying. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is for buying something, not for offering to do work.
Common Mistakes
2. a price-and-plan proposal sent in to win a piece of work or a service contract.
a price-and-plan proposal sent in to win a piece of work or a service contract.
The council accepted our bid to clean the city buses.
bid to + verb
A low bid helped the small company win the school contract.
Their bid for the bridge work arrived before the deadline.
bid for + contract or work
Only two bids came in for the hospital laundry service.
- competitive bid
- low bid
- sealed bid
- successful bid
Grammar Patterns
a bid for + contract
a bid to + verb
Usage Note
Usually appears with contracts, projects, repairs, or public services. Distinguish from sense 1 by the business-work context.
3. a serious effort to get, win, or achieve something.
a serious effort to get, win, or achieve something.
Her bid for class president ended in a narrow defeat.
bid for + goal
The company made a bid to buy the smaller chain.
bid to + verb
This song was the band's first bid for international fame.
Their late bid to equalize failed in the final minute.
The startup launched a bid for fresh funding in April.
- a desperate bid
- a final bid
- a bid for power
- a bid for freedom
Grammar Patterns
a bid for + noun
a bid to + verb
Usage Note
Often used in public or competitive situations such as politics, sport, business, or fame. It is more serious and news-like than everyday 'try'.
Common Mistakes
4. the word bid in the phrase 'in a bid to', used to show that someone is trying to
the word bid in the phrase 'in a bid to', used to show that someone is trying to achieve something.
The café cut prices in a bid to bring back customers.
fixed phrase: in a bid to + verb
Police closed the road in a bid to catch the driver.
Wren moved her desk in a bid to get more sunlight.
The mayor visited every market in a bid to win trust.
- in a bid to win
- in a bid to save
- in a bid to cut costs
- in a bid to attract voters
- in an attempt to
the closest everyday alternative
- in an effort to
slightly less competitive in tone
Grammar Patterns
in a bid to + verb
Usage Note
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'in a bid to', especially in news reports. Distinguish from sense 4: sense 4 names the attempt itself, while this sense is mainly a set expression introducing a purpose.
Common Mistakes
5. a player's statement before play about how many points or tricks they expect to
a player's statement before play about how many points or tricks they expect to make in a card game.
Her first bid promised six tricks with hearts as trumps.
first bid in a card game
A bold bid made the table fall silent.
bold bid / low bid in game talk
The teacher asked why Owen's bid was too high.
One careful bid from Mei changed the whole bridge hand.
- first bid
- bold bid
- low bid
- winning bid
- call
used in some games for a spoken move
- declaration
formal word used in rule books or teaching
- pass
a decision not to make a bid
Grammar Patterns
a bid of + number
a bold bid
a low bid
Usage Note
Restricted to card games such as bridge. Distinguish from senses 1 and 2, which are about money or contracts.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/4
For noun/4, all four words can describe trying to get something, but they do not sound the same. 'Bid' is common in news and public competition: a bid for power, a bid to host the games, a bid for funding. It usually suggests a visible goal and often some rivalry. 'Attempt' is the most neutral choice and works for both public and private situations. 'Effort' focuses more on the work and energy involved than on the contest. 'Push' is more informal and often suggests strong pressure or a short campaign. You can say 'the city's bid to host the fair', 'an attempt to fix the roof', 'a big effort to save water', or 'a late push for votes'.
Common collocations
Nouns
- opening bid
- winning bid
- sealed bid
- bid price
Adverbs
- aggressively bid
- competitively bid
- successfully bid
Phrases
- make a bid
- place a bid
- submit a bid
- in a bid to
Prepositions
- bid for
- bid against
- bid on
Etymology
Modern 'bid' brings together two old English verb lines. One came from Old English 'beodan', meaning 'offer, announce, command', and it gave the auction, contract, and card-game meanings. Another came from Old English 'biddan', meaning 'ask, pray, urge', and it lies behind older uses such as 'bid someone farewell' or 'bid them leave'. In Middle English the forms moved close together and later merged in spelling, so one short modern word now carries meanings from both histories.