tenderer; tenderest
1
: very loving and gentle : showing affection and love for someone or something
He gave her a tender look.
She was tender and loving with her new child.
tender words
a tender love song
2
of food
: easy to chew or bite : not tough
a tender, juicy steak
Cook the pasta until it is just tender.
3
: painful when touched : sore
Her wrist was swollen and tender.
4
: easily damaged : delicate and weak
tender young plants
—sometimes used figurativelyHe has a tender [=sensitive] ego.
tender pride
tenders; tendered; tendering
1
formal
: to give or offer (something, such as a payment or a letter)
The defendant must tender full payment.
I tendered my resignation today.
2
British
: to offer to do work or to provide goods for a particular price : to make a bid for something
—+ for
We tendered for [=(US) bid for] the job/contract.
plural tenders
US, informal
: a small piece of chicken meat that is usually cooked by being breaded and fried
Can I have an order of chicken tenders?
plural tenders
1
: a ship that carries passengers or cargo between the shore and a larger ship
a submarine tender
2
: a car that is attached to a train and that carries fuel and water
a coal tender
Cite this Entry
“Tender.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/tender. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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