WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
bid1 /bɪd/USA pronunciation
v., bade /bæd/USA pronunciation or bid, bid•den or bid, bid•ding, n.
v.
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026v.
- to command (someone to do something): [~ + object (+ to ) + verb]The king bade them (to) rise and speak freely.[~ + object]Do as I bid you.[no object]Do as I bid.
- to say as a greeting, wish, etc.: [~ + object + object]She bid him goodnight.[~ + object + to + object]We bid a warm welcome to our distinguished visitors.
- Businessto offer (a certain sum) as the price one will charge or pay: [~ + object (+ for + object)]They bid $25,000 (for the job) and got the contract.[no object;
(~ + for + object)]I can't bid (for that vase); I don't have enough money. - Games to enter a bid of (a given quantity or suit at cards):[~ + object]When my bridge partner bid six diamonds my heart nearly stopped beating.
n. [countable]
- an act or instance of bidding.
- Games
- an offer to make a specified number of points or to take a specified number of card tricks:My bid was for five hearts.
- the turn of a person to bid:Wait; it's my bid.
- an invitation: a bid to join a club.
- an attempt to attain some purpose:made a bid for the nomination.
bid1
(bid),USA pronunciation v., bade or (Archaic) bad for 1, 2, 5, 6, 8 or bid for 3, 4, 7, 9, 10;
bid•den or bid for 1, 2, 5, 6, 8 or bid for 3, 4, 7, 9;
bid•ding;
n.
v.t.
v.i.
n.
bid′der, n.
bid2 (bid),USA pronunciation v. [Archaic.]
B.I.D.,
b.i.d.,
bid•den or bid for 1, 2, 5, 6, 8 or bid for 3, 4, 7, 9;
bid•ding;
n.
v.t.
- to command;
order;
direct:to bid them depart. - to express (a greeting, farewell, benediction, or wish):to bid good night.
- Business[Com.]to offer (a certain sum) as the price one will pay or charge:They bid $25,000 and got the contract.
- Games[Cards.]to enter a bid of (a given quantity or suit):to bid two no-trump.
- to summon by invitation;
invite.
v.i.
- to command;
order;
direct:I will do as you bid. - to make a bid:She bid at the auction for the old chair.
- Idioms bid fair. See fair 1 (def. 23).
- Business bid in, [Com.]to overbid all offers for (property) at an auction in order to retain ownership.
- Business bid up, [Com.]to increase the market price of by increasing bids.
n.
- an act or instance of bidding.
- Games[Cards.]
- an offer to make a specified number of points or to take a specified number of tricks.
- the amount of such an offer.
- the turn of a person to bid.
- an invitation:a bid to join the club.
- an attempt to attain some goal or purpose:a bid for election.
- Stock Exchange, BusinessAlso called bid price. the highest price a prospective buyer is willing to pay for a security at a given moment.
- Indo-European *bhidh-) command, akin to Greek peíthein to persuade, inspire with trust, English bide
- Gmc *bid-ja- (
- bef. 900; Middle English bidden, Old English biddan to beg, ask; cognate with Old Frisian bidda, Old Saxon biddian, Old High German bittan (German bitten), Old Norse bithja, Gothic bidjan; all
- 1. charge; require, enjoin. 3. offer, tender, proffer. 11. offer, proposal; proffer.
bid2 (bid),USA pronunciation v. [Archaic.]
- pp. of bide.
B.I.D.,
- Bachelor of Industrial Design.
b.i.d.,
- Drugs(in prescriptions) twice a day.
- Latin bis in diē
'bidder' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
declarer
- Lady Macbeth strategy
- sandbag
- staggered directorships
- asking bid
- auction
- auction block
- auction pinochle
- box social
- by-bidder
- capper
- knock
- merchant of death
- outbid
- puff
- underbid
- you
- silent auction