- an order; command (often in the phrases doorfollow the bidding of, at someone's bidding)
- an invitation; summons
- the act of making bids, as at an auction or in bridge
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
bid•ding /ˈbɪdɪŋ/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- command;
summons:at his bidding. - bids thought of as a group, or a period during which bids are made or received:The bidding was fast and furious.
- Idiomsdo someone's bidding, to give in to someone's orders or wishes:I was willing to do her bidding.
bid•ding
(bid′ing),USA pronunciation n.
- command;
summons;
invitation:I went there at his bidding. - bids collectively, or a period during which bids are made or received:The bidding began furiously.
- a bid.
- Idioms do someone's bidding, to submit to someone's orders;
perform services for someone:After he was promoted to vice president at the bank, he expected everyone around him to do his bidding.
- 1125–75; Middle English; see bid1, -ing1
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
bidding /ˈbɪdɪŋ/ n
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
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
bid /bɪd/ vb (bids, bidding, bad, bade, (esp for senses 1, 2, 5, 7) bid, bidden, (esp for senses 1, 2, 5, 7) bid)
- often followed by for or against: to offer (an amount) in attempting to buy something, esp in competition with others as at an auction
- to respond to an offer by a seller by stating (the more favourable terms) on which one is willing to make a purchase
- (transitive) to say (a greeting, blessing, etc): to bid farewell
- to order; command: do as you are bid!
- (intransitive) usually followed by for: to attempt to attain power, etc
- to declare in the auction before play how many tricks one expects to make
- bid defiance ⇒ to resist boldly
- bid fair ⇒ to seem probable
- an offer of a specified amount, as at an auction
- the price offered
- a statement by a buyer, in response to an offer by a seller, of the more favourable terms that would be acceptable
- the price or other terms so stated
- an attempt, esp an attempt to attain power
- the number of tricks a player undertakes to make
- a player's turn to make a bid
'bidding' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
auctioneer
- bid
- Blackwood
- bridge
- contract
- convention
- forbid
- force
- pre-empt
- pre-emptive
- trumps
- underbid
- Aladdin
- auction
- beck
- behest
- biddable
- bidding prayer
- bid-up
- by
- call
- canapé
- command
- counterbid or or
- cue bid
- cutthroat contract
- dictate
- double dummy
- honor trick
- jump
- jump bid
- kiss
- outbid
- overbid
- pass
- postmortem
- prebid or or or
- psychic bid
- rebid
- rushing
- valediction
- valedictory
- wallflower
- whist
- set-aside
- slam