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

Relevance

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

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
Swalwell, a former prosecutor who ran for president in 2020, announced his bid for California governor in November. —Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026 McMorris added that public agencies ca,n be more vulnerable to contracting abuses without strong safeguards, pointing to practices such as limits on no-bid contracts, multi-level approval processes, regular audits and stricter controls on contract changes and cost overruns. —Teresa Liu, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
In a significant expansion of the company's advertising business, the company is launching a new initiative that gives businesses with a physical listing the ability to bid for placement next to relevant search results. —Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026 Both cities are believed to have multiple groups that could potentially bid on a team. —David Aldridge, New York Times, 25 Mar. 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
  • Lori’s speech articulates the fundamental twinship of artists and critics—a reality that has always resisted attempts to drive a wedge between the two.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Since then, the case has been tied up in court as Morris and the church attempt to agree on an arbitrator.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of attempt
Verb
  • There's text messages about ordering ethylene glycol.
    — Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, supreme commander of the Luftwaffe, Hitler’s second in command, and the highest-ranking surviving Nazi leader, steps out of the car, stands at attention to announce his surrender, and orders the soldiers to carry his bags.
    — Alice Kaplan, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of order
Verb
  • The 9-9-9 challenge in Section 139 invites fans to tackle nine slider hot dogs paired with nine 4-ounce beer pours across 9 innings.
    — Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The Inn stays shut during winter and ‘pack ice’ season, which some locals will tell you is the most beautiful time of all—for snowmobiling and snowshoeing through the Island’s interior by day, and come evening, getting invited into someone's warm shed for a tipple and a chat.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of invite
Noun
  • Sinner broke him in his second try, in the third game of the match.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
  • As psilocybin has become more available, more people are giving retreats like these a try.
    — Natalia V. Osipova, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Definition of try
Verb
  • Jurors were later instructed to disregard large portions of the girl’s testimony, which the appellate panel said was likely confusing to the jury.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
  • LeVota did implement a cap on commercial properties by instructing county staff to manually adjust the values of more than 6,200 spaces.
    — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of instruct
Verb
  • Ali, who wasn’t formally charged, called his family to say that he would be released on bail, and asked them to gather the funds and collect him from prison.
    — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The Manteca Fire Department is taking action and trying to get ahead of this fire season by asking residents to reduce fire danger or face fines.
    — Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of ask
Verb
  • One of them told Felder that the precinct had received a complaint about a trespasser at the synagogue.
    — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Minnesota victim wants accountability After she was injured, Stotko told the city council in her community of Hastings, Minnesota, about her crash to push for a stricter ordinance.
    — Sarah Raza, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Definition of tell

Phrases Containing bid

Browse Nearby Words

bicycles
bid
biddability
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bid. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on bid

Nglish: Translation of bid for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of verdant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Are You Misusing These 10 Common Words?

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

12 Words for Signs of Spring

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

The Words of the Week - Apr. 3

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?

17 Words for Dog Breeds
See More

Popular

See More

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

12 Words for Signs of Spring

The Opposite of Déjà Vu
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
8-track-tapes
Good Old-Fashioned Quiz Can you name these antiquated items?
See All