bid - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
bid Word Meanings
- to offer a price for something
- to announce or declare
- a formal offer in an auction
bid Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
bid Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/bɪd/
US
/bɪd/
bid Word Etymology
bid = 'to command' (from Old English 'bidde') + 'to offer'. Origin: Old English → Middle English → Modern English. Imagine a person raising a hand and shouting a price strongly.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I lean forward, place my hand on the auction paddle, and push aside doubt. I shift in the chair, count the ticking clock, and adjust my stance as the moment comes to change my mind or commit. When I raise the paddle, the room holds its breath; a wave of energy makes me feel I am deciding. That single bid becomes a practical move I carry into daily life: a price I’m willing to set and stand by.
Real Context
Bid has two main uses in English. As a verb, it means to offer a price for something, as in auctions, or to command or invite in older, formal phrases (the king bade them enter). As a noun, a bid is the formal offer made at an auction. In everyday speech you usually say you will “make a bid” or you will “place a bid.” People often mix up bid with offer or assume every bid is about money, and they may stumble over the older sense (to bid someone farewell) which sounds archaic. The word also appears in technical contexts like bidding in networks or procurement, where the idea is to signal preference or intent through a price or proposal.
Usage Reminders
- Remember: bid is both price-related and old-fashioned in meaning. Use 'place a bid' with auctions; 'bid farewell' is rare today. Distinguish 'bid' from 'offer' in everyday shopping. The past tense of bid is 'bade' in literary uses, not 'bidded.' Pronounce /bɪd/; it rhymes with 'kid' but not with 'bead' in most dialects. Don’t say 'bid on' in all contexts; in auctions you bid on an item, not on a person. When talking about networks or procurement, 'bidding' signals intent through price.
Common Misconceptions
- Bid always means money; a bid is a price only.
- Bid and offer are the same in every context.
- ‘Bid’ can’t be used as a noun.
- The past tense of bid is always ‘bidded’.
- ‘Bid you farewell’ is a common modern expression.
Thinking Differences
Native English often distinguishes bid as a flexible term used in auctions and formal contexts; learners may overextend to everyday shopping or confuse bid with offer. The archaic sense of bid meaning command needs careful exposure to avoid sounding pretentious or archaic.
Learning Tips
- Practice 'place a bid' vs 'make a bid' in auctions.
- memorize that ‘bid’ can also mean to command in archaic phrases.
- Pronounce /bɪd/ clearly; don’t blend with ‘bead’.
- Distinguish ‘bade/bidden’ (old past forms) from modern past tense usage.
- Use context to decide if ‘bid’ refers to money or a formal offer.
- Remember common collocations: bid on, bid farewell (archaic).
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses 'bid' correctly?
A.He bid farewell to his friends.
B.She bid the fish happily.
C.They bid the homework.
D.I bid my shoes.
Step 3: Similar Words
Choose the synonym for 'bid':
A.Purchase
B.Sell
C.Request
D.Give
Step 4: Opposite Words
Choose the antonym for 'bid':
A.Accept
B.Refuse
C.Offer
D.Demand
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life situation would you use the word 'bid'?
A.At a restaurant ordering food
B.In a classroom doing homework
C.At an auction placing an offer
D.In a library reading a book
Related Listening
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