bid 1 of 2

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

1
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

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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
Intel Breaking Up Is Hard To Do The longer Intel delays meaningful change, the more compelling the breakup case or bid opportunity becomes. Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025 However, without explanation, the company withdrew the bid protest four days later on July 1. Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 21 June 2025
Verb
Sometimes, when a politician bids a public farewell, his family shows up. Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 25 June 2025 Meanwhile, James Johnson, Football Australia’s chief executive, told the Sydney Morning Herald in June 2023 that his country would consider bidding for the 2029 hosting rights. Luke Bosher, New York Times, 21 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for bid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bid
Noun
  • For Paul, the bout is another step in his attempt to silence the purists and reassert himself as more than a YouTube celebrity with gloves.
    Jad El Reda, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
  • Brooks is featured throughout the 2024 documentary Remembering Gene Wilder and talks about his attempts to help Wilder following his Alzheimer's diagnosis.
    Alex Apatoff, People.com, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Some of those claims were dismissed by a judge in 2024, but the lawsuit was still ordered to move forward; in June, however, Lizzo filed an appeal aimed at shutting it down for good on the grounds that the dancers’ claims clashed with her First Amendment rights.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 1 July 2025
  • The company has been ordering fireworks a year in advance, Marietta said.
    Tim Hrenchir, USA Today, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Now he is invited back to the Panthers’ rink for years to come.
    Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025
  • At present, only those explicitly invited, many of whom are a select group of superfans with large followings in the Tesla community, may hail one of his robotaxis.
    Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • The natural chemistry between the two appealing lead actors makes their disagreements as believable as the magnetic force that keeps coaxing them to give it another try.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025
  • Perhaps there are statistics from New York to suggest Connecticut towns give it a try.
    Raj Dodani, Hartford Courant, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • Before doing anything else, inspect the inside of the grill for any grease build-up, Carothers instructs.
    Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 June 2025
  • Prompting would entail instructing a model to respond to certain queries in a specific way, whereas weights influence an AI model’s decision-making process.
    Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • After discussing the options with attorneys for both sides, Judge Arun Subramanian asked the jury to keep deliberating on the remaining charge, which is what prosecutors and defense attorneys asked for. Court then ended for the day.
    July 1, CBS News, 1 July 2025
  • The drama wasn't over after the final vote -- Murkowski appeared exasperated when asked about Paul's criticism over her vote and what deals Alaska might have benefitted from.
    Isabella Murray, ABC News, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • The suspect has been identified as Wess Roley, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Monday.
    Rebecca Boone, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025
  • The Dolphins were taking Fitzpatrick, Grier told owner Steve Ross, then head coach Adam Gase and team czar Mike Tannenbaum.
    Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bid. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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