bid 1 of 2

noun

Definition of bidnext
as in attempt
an effort to do or accomplish something a dramatic film that is widely regarded as the comedian's last-ditch bid to be taken seriously as an actor

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bid

2 of 2

verb

ˈbid How to pronounce bid (audio)
1
as in to order
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority the servants were expected to do exactly as they were bidden

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to invite
to request the presence or participation of as company president, I bid you all to come to our annual holiday party!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb bid contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of bid are charge, command, direct, enjoin, instruct, and order. While all these words mean "to issue orders," bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants).

she bade him be seated

How do charge and enjoin relate to one another, in the sense of bid?

Charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility.

charged by the President with a secret mission

How are the words command and order related as synonyms of bid?

Both command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality; command stresses official exercise of authority.

a general commanding troops

How does the word direct relate to its synonym instruct, in the sense of bid?

Direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality.

directed her assistant to hold all calls
the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark

When can enjoin be used instead of bid?

While the synonyms enjoin and bid are close in meaning, enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude.

a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

When might order be a better fit than bid?

The words order and bid can be used in similar contexts, but order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise.

ordered his employees about like slaves

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bid
Noun
Both candidates will be forced to emphasize their conservative credentials in a bid to please Republican primary voters, which could provide an opening for their eventual Democratic challenger. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025 And now the Bulls stand in the way of Miami’s bid to secure a home game in the play-in tournament. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
Retailers value tight control over the shopping experience and are wary of letting third-party demand-side platforms directly bid into their on-site inventory. —Kiri Masters, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025 This turmoil inevitably colours perceptions of what might happen in the summer — after Napoli bid £40million for him in January. —Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bid
  1. attempt
  2. order
  3. invite
  4. try
  5. instruct
  6. ask
  7. tell
Noun
  • The Wild finally gained possession, worked it up the wall and Ryan Hartman’s low-speed attempt at an exit was picked off by Dobson and his shot was tipped past Filip Gustavsson by Casey Cizikas 36 seconds after Zuccarello’s goal.
    — Michael Russo, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Black and brown Californians angered at attempts to erase history, legacy and achievement under pretense of eliminating diversity and equity initiatives.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of attempt
Verb
  • The Duke and Duchess of Windsor ordered pieces that were full of personality and wit.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The shift comes after reports that the cuts were ordered by Jeremy Lewin, a close ally of Elon Musk, who now oversees USAID under Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.
    — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of order
Verb
  • Legendary invited Minecraft influencers to the set, gave them shout-outs in the movie, and invited 30 of them to the London world premiere.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The legislation’s Republican sponsor, Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez, only invited Ladapo and other critics of fluoridation for the one committee hearing on the issue, held last month.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of invite
Noun
  • Priced at $1 a box, there’s no reason not to give it a try.
    — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
  • So why not give it a try as my menu conductor for the week?
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of try
Verb
  • So Yankees personnel were instructed not to pick them for the 2024 edition of this survey.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Workers were instructed to provide their personal contact information — phone number, email address, and mailing address — by Monday to the department’s human resources departments.
    — Filip Timotija, The Hill, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of instruct
Verb
  • The actor adds that he was once asked if a company could use his voice and declined.
    — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Her mom has successfully kept her isolated from her grandfather even though Hazel has asked a lot about him and shown interest in getting to know him.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of ask
Verb
  • Dougherty studies the impact of exercise on dementia risk, and told Health that losing weight can be one way to lower the risk of cognitive issues.
    — Kristen Fischer, Health, 9 Apr. 2025
  • One of the women surrendered her wedding ring, worth an estimated $7,000, and the robber told the victims to leave the area.
    — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of tell

Phrases Containing bid

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bicycles
bid
biddability
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Cite this Entry

“Bid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bid. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

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