EN

Synonyms for bid

31 synonyms
4 meanings

verb
noun

Most common

press request conjure beseech offer tender

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

1. Request

request, ask, charge, charre UK, press, summon, conjure, beseech, adjure

2. Offer

offer, tender, attempt, propose, proffer

3. Declare

declare, tell, direct, warn, enjoin, instruct, pronounce

Other

call, invite, wish

Noun

1. Command

command, dictation

Other

proposal, order, offering, play, bit, dictate

Definitions

v. 1
To issue a command; to tell.
v. 2
To invite; to summon.
She was bidden to the wedding.
v. 3
To utter a greeting or salutation.
n. 1
An offer at an auction, or to carry out a piece of work.
The company tendered a bid for a lucrative transport contract.

Related words

Word family: biddable biddance
Phrases: bid price psychic bid

Forms

Plural: bids → commands, dictations, proposals, orders…
Past participle: bidden
e.g. bidden → requested, asked, charged, prest…

Choose the right word

Bid or Proposal?

A bid is commercial and often verbal; as, a bid at an auction; proposal is used in nearly the same sense, but is more formal.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

press Press the red button if something strange happens.
request We are sorry we are unable to accept your request.
conjure What images does the name "Tom" conjure up for you?
beseech But he said: I beseech thee, Lord, send whom thou wilt send.
offer I am surprised that she refused such a good offer.
tender It was put out to tender, and an Italian firm won.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
bid		steady
press		steady
request		falling
conjure		rising
beseech		steady
offer		rising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters: bit¹, ask¹
4 letters: play¹, tell¹, call¹, wish¹, warn¹
5 letters: order², press¹, offer²
6 letters: charge¹, direct², invite², tender², summon², enjoin², adjure, charre
7 letters: request², attempt², command², propose², declare², dictate², conjure², beseech², proffer²
8 letters: offering³, proposal³, instruct²
9 letters: pronounce², dictation³

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (order² = 2 syllables).