26984 words

bids

23 definitions • 43 examples
1
to offer a particular amount of money for something that is for sale and compete against other people to buy it, especially at a public sale of goods or property:

Examples:

She knew she couldn't afford it, so she didn't bid.
bid for The communications group has shown an interest in bidding for the company.
bid something for something A foreign collector has bid $500,000 for the portrait.
[ + two objects ] What am I bid for this fine vase?
2
If two or more people bid for a job, they compete with each other to do the work by offering to do it for a particular amount of money:

Examples:

bid for The department is trying to ensure fairer competition among firms bidding for city contracts.
3
If someone bids to do something, they compete with other people to do it:

Examples:

Paris is bidding to host the next Olympics.
4
(in some card games) to say, before play starts, how many points you expect to win in a particular game:

Examples:

Before you decide how to bid, you need to evaluate how strong the hand of cards you are holding is.
She bid three diamonds.
5
to give a greeting to someone, or to ask someone to do something:

Examples:

[ + two objects ] They bade her good morning.
bid someone/something farewell I must now bid you farewell (= say goodbye to you).
literary She bade her hopes farewell (= she stopped being hopeful).
[ + object + (to) infinitive ] He bade (= asked) them (to) leave at once.
6
an offer of a particular amount of money for something that is for sale:

Examples:

make a bid I made a bid of $150 for the painting.
put in a bid She put in a bid of £69,000 for the flat, which was accepted.
7
an offer to do something when you are competing with other people to do it:

Examples:

[ + to infinitive ] Sydney made a successful bid to host the Olympic Games.
I gave the job to the contractors who made the lowest bid (= who offered to do the work for the lowest amount of money).
8
(in some card games) a statement, made before play starts, of how many points a player thinks he or she will get in a particular game :

Examples:

The declarer must make as many tricks as his bid has promised.
9
an attempt to achieve or get something:

Examples:

bid for Her bid for re-election was unsuccessful.
takeover bid The company has managed to fight off a hostile takeover bid (= an attempt by another company to take control of it).
10
in order to try to get or do something:

Examples:

They have reduced the cost of borrowing in a bid to get the economy moving again.
She wants to recruit more police officers in a bid to reduce crime in the city.
The examiners set the pass mark lower in a bid to keep results in line with previous years.
In a bid to boost environmentally friendly tourism, the council has set up a series of recharging points for electric vehicles.
Local people have formed a pressure group in a bid to block the development.
11
to offer a particular amount of money for something when competing against other people to buy it:

Examples:

[ T ] A collector bid $500,000 for the portrait.
12
People who bid for/on a job offer to do it for a particular amount of money.
13
Someone who bids to do something competes with others to do it:

Examples:

[ I ] Paris is bidding to host the next Olympics.
14
to give a greeting to someone, or to ask someone to do something:

Examples:

He bade us farewell.
15
an offer of a particular amount of money for something that is for sale:

Examples:

The minimum bid for these dolls is $75.
16
A bid is also an offer to do a job for a particular price:

Examples:

His bid to build the garage was too high.
17
A bid for something is an attempt to achieve or obtain it:

Examples:

Her bid for reelection was unsuccessful.
18
to compete to buy something by offering a particular amount of money for it:

Examples:

We have a keen interest in the property, although we have not made any definite decision to bid.
bid for sth Potential buyers must register and bid for items online before the cutoff dates.
bid sth for sth The previously unknown company bid $9.3 billion for the oil fields.
19
to compete for work by offering to do it for a particular price:

Examples:

bid for sth Taylor-Stanley yesterday confirmed it had bid for the contract.
20
to compete to be chosen to do something:

Examples:

The city is bidding to host the 2020 Olympic Games.
21
an offer to buy something for a particular price:

Examples:

a bid of £50m
make a bid for sth It is believed the team are ready to make a bid for the player.
22
an offer to do work for a particular price:

Examples:

invite bids for sth/to do sth The state government is inviting bids to carry out maintenance work on all the state highways.
make/put in/submit a bid for/on sth It was the second time they had submitted a bid for the contract.
23
an attempt to achieve or get something:

Examples:

bid for sth He lost his bid for re-election to the board.
The government has reduced the cost of borrowing in a bid to get the economy moving again.

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