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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
Jackson is also vying for the president’s favor, even directing a slice of his roughly $4 million cable ad buy to Washington and Palm Beach — a clear bid to catch the president’s eye. —Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 7 Feb. 2026 The ashtrays on display include Art Deco elegance in bronze, mid-century color pops, and even an entry from Picasso for Madoura — a bid by the artist to make his work more accessible to regular people by way of ceramics. —Clio Chang, Curbed, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
Two young children were seen kneeling at the body of their father as a woman told them to bid him farewell. —Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026 Feliciano was close to buying a minority stake in the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers two years ago and was among those who bid unsuccessfully for the Denver Broncos in 2022. —Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 4 Feb. 2026 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
  • Continue reading … LOGGED OFF – Harris mocked for 'cringe' social media rebrand attempt after failed White House bid.
    — , FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Cruelest of all was his final attempt of regulation, a catch-and-shoot prayer from way downtown after Denver advanced the ball with less than a second left.
    — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of attempt
Verb
  • After more than a week at the Dilley center, the preschooler and his Ecuadorian father are back home in Minneapolis after a judge ordered them to be released.
    — Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
  • What sets Luckin apart has been its ability to build a robust pool of private user traffic through its smartphone ordering app, said Mingchao Xiao, founder of Zhimeng Trends Consulting.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of order
Verb
  • In 2018, Karp was invited for dinner with Epstein.
    — MEG KINNARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Quiet Bedding Simple bedding in striking colors and inviting textures will star in 2026.
    — Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of invite
Noun
  • After the Anteaters shot 2 for 14 from long range in the first half, Hanson made a 3-pointer on UCI’s first attempt from deep in the second half, and Nahum drilled her first 3-point try after halftime to stretch the lead to 40-17.
    — Dan Arritt, Oc Register, 8 Feb. 2026
  • On the flip side, longtime San Diegans know all too well that special teams failures harmed several Chargers teams in the playoffs — beginning with the franchise’s very first postseason game of the post-merger era, when a short field-goal try was blocked by the underdog Houston Oilers.
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of try
Verb
  • The Justice Department filed the affidavit to a Georgia federal court for release to the public on the order of a federal judge, who instructed government lawyers to make redactions to shield the names of nongovernmental witnesses.
    — Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
  • But Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carolyn Kuhl, who is overseeing the trial, has instructed them not to search for or view any information related to the case or to change their settings to evaluate claims made during trial.
    — CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of instruct
Verb
  • Footage of the incident shows King Charles greeting dozens of residents when one man shouted at him, asking whether the monarch had urged police to investigate his disgraced brother, according to The Times.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
  • But for those interested in fashion history, these red carpet looks are key texts just asking to be pored over.
    — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of ask
Verb
  • The singer then materialized and handed the boy one of his Grammys and told him always to believe in himself.
    — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Crashes, luge athletes will tell you, are part of the game, a necessary teaching tool that helps young lugers learn how to navigate sliding on their back down an icy course, sometimes faster than 90 miles per hour.
    — Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
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 15 Feb. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of bid for Spanish Speakers

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