Standard Lemma guide

BID

adv · noun · verb · 26 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /bɪd/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪd
  • CMU ARPABET: B IH1 D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

twice a day, two times per day

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Topics: medicine, pharmacology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Acronym of business improvement district.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, acronym, alt-of

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

An offer at an auction, or to carry out a piece of work.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • His bid was $35,000.
  • The company tendered a bid for a lucrative transport contract.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A (failed) attempt to receive or intercept a pass.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: ultimate frisbee

Examples

  • Nice bid!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

An attempt, effort, or pursuit (of a goal).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Their efforts represented a sincere bid for success.
  • She put in her bid for the presidency.
  • He put in his bid for office.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A particular route that a driver regularly takes from their domicile.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: trucking

Examples

  • I can’t stand this new bid I’m on, even if the mileage is better.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

A prison sentence.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bit

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To issue a command; to tell.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • He bade me come in.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To invite; to summon.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • She was bidden to the wedding.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To utter a greeting or salutation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To proclaim (a bede, prayer); to pray.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

verb

Meaning 12

To make an offer to pay or accept a certain price.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • Have you ever bid in an auction?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

verb

Meaning 13

To offer as a price; to tender.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • She bid £2000 for the Persian carpet.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

verb

Meaning 14

To make an attempt.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • He was bidding for the chance to coach his team to victory once again.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

15

verb

Meaning 15

To announce (one's goal), before starting play.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

Topics: card-games, games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

16

verb

Meaning 16

To take a particular route regularly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

Qualifier: trucking

Examples

  • I can’t believe he bid the Syracuse turn; that can be brutal in the winter!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

17

noun

Meaning 17

an attempt to get something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they made a futile play for power
  • he made a bid to gain attention

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: play

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: attempt, effort, endeavor, endeavour, try

18

noun

Meaning 18

(bridge) the number of tricks a bridge player is willing to contract to make

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bidding

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: statement

Narrower terms: contract, declaration, takeout, overbid, overcall, preemptive bid, pre-empt, preempt

19

noun

Meaning 19

a formal proposal to buy at a specified price

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tender

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: offer, offering

Narrower terms: overbid, buyout bid

20

noun

Meaning 20

an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: command, bidding, dictation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: speech act

Narrower terms: countermand, order, commission, charge, direction, commandment, injunction, behest, open sesame

21

verb

Meaning 21

ask for or request earnestly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The prophet bid all people to become good persons

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: beseech, entreat, adjure, press, conjure

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: plead

22

verb

Meaning 22

ask someone in a friendly way to do something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: invite

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: request

Narrower terms: tempt, allure, challenge

23

verb

Meaning 23

invoke upon

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • wish you a nice evening
  • bid farewell

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: wish

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: greet, recognize, recognise

Narrower terms: congratulate, felicitate

24

verb

Meaning 24

make a serious effort to attain something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • His campaign bid for the attention of the poor population

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: seek

25

verb

Meaning 25

propose a payment

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The Swiss dealer offered $2 million for the painting

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: offer, tender

Antonyms: none provided

Narrower terms: by-bid, subscribe, overbid, underbid, outbid

26

verb

Meaning 26

make a demand, as for a card or a suit or a show of hands

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He called his trump

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: call

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: play

Narrower terms: raise, double, outcall, underbid, outbid, overbid, preempt

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin bis in diē.

From Middle English beden, from Old English bēodan (“to offer, announce”), from Proto-Germanic *beudaną (“to offer”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhewdh- (“be awake, aware”). Conflated with Old English biddan (“to ask, demand”) (see Etymology 1 above). Compare Low German bieden, beden, Dutch bieden, German bieten, Danish byde, Norwegian Bokmål by. More at bede.

From Middle English bidden, from Old English biddan (“to ask, demand”), from Proto-West Germanic *biddjan, from Proto-Germanic *bidjaną (“to ask”), from Proto-Indo-European *gwhedh-. Conflated with Old English bēodan (“to offer, announce”) (see Etymology 2 below). Compare West Frisian bidde, Low German bidden, Dutch bidden ("to pray"), German bitten, Danish bede, Norwegian Bokmål be.

Across languages

Translations

171 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: عَرْض (ʕarḍ) — offer at an auction
  • Arabic: عَطَاء (ʕaṭāʔ) — offer at an auction
  • Arabic: مزايدة (Muzayda) — offer at an auction
  • Armenian: գնի առաջարկ (gni aṙaǰark) — offer at an auction
  • Armenian: հայտ (hayt) — offer at an auction
  • Bulgarian: оферта (oferta) — offer at an auction
  • Chinese Mandarin: 出價 /出价 (chūjià) — offer at an auction
  • Czech: nabídka — offer at an auction
  • Danish: bud — offer at an auction
  • Dutch: bod — offer at an auction
  • Finnish: tarjous — offer at an auction
  • French: enchère — offer at an auction
  • Galician: poxa — offer at an auction
  • German: Gebot — offer at an auction
  • Greek: προσφορά (prosforá) — offer at an auction
  • Hebrew: הצעת מחיר (hatsaát mekhír) — offer at an auction
  • Italian: offerta — offer at an auction
  • Japanese: 付け値 (tsukene) — offer at an auction
  • Latin: licitatio — offer at an auction
  • Māori: piti — offer at an auction
  • Norwegian Bokmål: bud — offer at an auction
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: bod — offer at an auction
  • Occitan: ofèrta — offer at an auction
  • Persian: دو زن داری — offer at an auction
  • Polish: oferta — offer at an auction
  • Polish: licytacja — offer at an auction
  • Portuguese: licitação — offer at an auction
  • Portuguese: lance — offer at an auction
  • Romanian: ofertă — offer at an auction
  • Russian: предлага́емая цена́ (predlagájemaja cená) — offer at an auction
  • Russian: зая́вка (zajávka) — offer at an auction
  • Russian: ста́вка (stávka) — offer at an auction
  • Serbo-Croatian: ponuda — offer at an auction
  • Slovene: ponúdba — offer at an auction
  • Spanish: licitación — offer at an auction
  • Swedish: bud — offer at an auction
  • Tagalog: tampa — offer at an auction
  • Thai: ประมูล (bprà-muun) — offer at an auction
  • Turkish: teklif — offer at an auction
  • Vietnamese: sự đặt giá — offer at an auction
  • Vietnamese: sự trả giá — offer at an auction
  • Zazaki: bid — offer at an auction
  • German: Bestrebung — attempt, effort, or pursuit (of a goal)
  • German: Streben — attempt, effort, or pursuit (of a goal)
  • German: Bewerbung — attempt, effort, or pursuit (of a goal)
  • Russian: попытка (popytka) — attempt, effort, or pursuit (of a goal)
  • Bulgarian: заповядвам (zapovjadvam) — to issue a command
  • Czech: žádat — to issue a command
  • Dutch: gebieden — to issue a command
  • Dutch: gelasten — to issue a command
  • Esperanto: ordoni — to issue a command
  • Esperanto: komandi — to issue a command
  • Finnish: pyytää — to issue a command
  • Finnish: käskeä — to issue a command
  • French: demander — to issue a command
  • French: ordonner — to issue a command
  • French: imposer — to issue a command
  • German: gebieten — to issue a command
  • Hungarian: megparancsol — to issue a command
  • Hungarian: elrendel — to issue a command
  • Hungarian: parancsol — to issue a command
  • Hungarian: utasít — to issue a command
  • Italian: domandare — to issue a command
  • Italian: ordinare — to issue a command
  • Italian: imporre — to issue a command
  • Occitan: ordenar — to issue a command
  • Occitan: demandar — to issue a command
  • Portuguese: mandar — to issue a command
  • Portuguese: ordenar — to issue a command
  • Portuguese: intimar — to issue a command
  • Russian: прика́зывать (prikázyvatʹ) — to issue a command
  • Russian: приказа́ть (prikazátʹ) — to issue a command
  • Ukrainian: нака́зувати (nakázuvaty) — to issue a command
  • Ukrainian: наказа́ти (nakazáty) — to issue a command
  • Zazaki: biden — to issue a command
  • Zazaki: dayen — to issue a command
  • Bulgarian: каня (kanja) — to invite
  • Bulgarian: моля (molja) — to invite
  • Dutch: uitnodigen — to invite
  • Finnish: kutsua — to invite
  • French: demander — to invite
  • French: inviter — to invite
  • French: proposer — to invite
  • Gothic: 𐌰𐍄𐌻𐌰𐌸𐍉𐌽 (atlaþōn) — to invite
  • Hungarian: meghív — to invite
  • Hungarian: elhív — to invite
  • Italian: domandare — to invite
  • Italian: invitare — to invite
  • Italian: proporre — to invite
  • Occitan: invitar — to invite
  • Occitan: pregar — to invite
  • Occitan: propausar — to invite
  • Portuguese: convidar — to invite
  • Portuguese: intimar — to invite
  • Russian: приглаша́ть (priglašátʹ) — to invite
  • Russian: пригласи́ть (priglasítʹ) — to invite
  • Swedish: bjuda — to invite
  • Swedish: bjuda in — to invite
  • Dutch: bidden — to utter a greeting or salutation
  • Finnish: toivottaa — to utter a greeting or salutation
  • French: dire — to utter a greeting or salutation
  • French: exprimer — to utter a greeting or salutation
  • Hungarian: mond — to utter a greeting or salutation
  • Hungarian: vesz — to utter a greeting or salutation
  • Italian: augurare — to utter a greeting or salutation
  • Italian: salutare — to utter a greeting or salutation
  • Italian: rivolgere un saluto — to utter a greeting or salutation
  • Occitan: dire — to utter a greeting or salutation
  • Catalan: licitar — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Catalan: oferir — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Chinese Mandarin: 出價 /出价 (chūjià) — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Chinese Mandarin: 投標 /投标 (tóubiāo) — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Danish: byde — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Dutch: bieden — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Finnish: tarjota — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Finnish: tehdä tarjous — intransitive: to make an offer
  • French: faire une enchère — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Galician: oferer — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Galician: oferecer — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Galician: ofrecer — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Galician: ofrir — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Galician: gravecer — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Galician: brindar — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Galician: obradar — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Galician: poxar — intransitive: to make an offer
  • German: bieten — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Hungarian: licitál — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Hungarian: ajánlatot tesz — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Italian: fare un'offerta per un'asta — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Japanese: 値をつける (ne o tsukeru) — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Japanese: 入札する (nyūsatsu suru) — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Latin: liceor — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Low German: beden — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Māori: piti — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Occitan: ofrir — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Polish: licytować — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Polish: zalicytować — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Portuguese: oferecer — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Russian: предлага́ть це́ну (predlagátʹ cénu) — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Russian: предложи́ть це́ну (predložítʹ cénu) — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Spanish: licitar — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Spanish: pujar — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Spanish: hacer una oferta — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Swedish: bjuda — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Thai: ประมูล (bprà-muun) — intransitive: to make an offer
  • Bulgarian: предлагам цена (predlagam cena) — transitive: to offer as a price
  • Catalan: oferir — transitive: to offer as a price
  • Dutch: bieden — transitive: to offer as a price
  • Finnish: tarjota — transitive: to offer as a price
  • French: soumissionner — transitive: to offer as a price
  • German: bieten — transitive: to offer as a price
  • Hungarian: ajánl — transitive: to offer as a price
  • Latin: liceor — transitive: to offer as a price
  • Māori: piti — transitive: to offer as a price
  • Occitan: ofrir — transitive: to offer as a price
  • Occitan: propausar — transitive: to offer as a price
  • Polish: licytować — transitive: to offer as a price
  • Polish: zalicytować — transitive: to offer as a price
  • Spanish: ofrecer — transitive: to offer as a price
  • Spanish: ofertar — transitive: to offer as a price
  • Spanish: pujar — transitive: to offer as a price
  • Swedish: bjuda — transitive: to offer as a price
  • Zazaki: biden — transitive: to offer as a price
  • Chinese Mandarin: 嘗試 /尝试 (chángshì) — intransitive: to make an attempt
  • Hungarian: megkísérel — intransitive: to make an attempt
  • Bulgarian: анонсирам (anonsiram) — transitive: to announce goal
  • Finnish: tarjota — transitive: to announce goal
  • French: annoncer — transitive: to announce goal
  • German: melden — transitive: to announce goal
  • German: reizen — transitive: to announce goal
  • Hungarian: bemond — transitive: to announce goal