B2noun2K

Bid

UK /["/bɪd/"]/US /["/bɪd/"]/

Definition

an offer by a person or a company to pay a particular amount of money for something

In simple words: An offer to pay a certain amount for something.

Examples

  • The company made a successful bid for the construction project.
  • She placed a bid in the auction hoping to win the painting.
  • The highest bid for the antique vase was surprisingly low.
  • He won the bid after several intense rounds of bidding.
  • In poker, a player can make a bid to stay in the game.

Usage notes

Used in contexts like auctions or negotiations. Less formal in direct conversations. Avoid using in very casual settings without context.

Grammar pattern

bid + object

Memory hint

Think of a 'bid' as a 'big deal' when you want to buy something important.

Collocations

  • high
  • low
  • opening
  • make
  • place
  • put in
  • price
  • process
  • bid by
  • bid from
  • bid for
  • successful
  • failed
  • unsuccessful
  • launch
  • make
  • mount
  • succeed
  • fail
  • in a/​the bid
  • bid by
  • bid for
  • a bid for freedom
  • a bid for power
  • a bid to escape

Synonyms

  • tender

Antonyms

  • withdraw
  • retract
  • ignore

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'bide', which is a different meaning.
  • Misused as a noun without qualifying it appropriately (e.g., 'I made a bid' instead of 'I made a bid at the auction').
  • Used in the past tense incorrectly (e.g., 'bad' instead of 'bidded' or 'bid').