offer

[ aw-fer, of-er ]
See synonyms for: offerofferedofferingoffers on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to present for acceptance or rejection; proffer: He offered me a cigarette.

  2. to propose or put forward for consideration: to offer a suggestion.

  1. to propose or volunteer (to do something): She offered to accompany me.

  2. to make a show of intention (to do something): We did not offer to go first.

  3. to give, make, or promise: She offered no response.

  4. to present solemnly as an act of worship or devotion, as to God, a deity or a saint; sacrifice.

  5. to present for sale: He offered the painting to me at a reduced price.

  6. to tender or bid as a price: to offer ten dollars for a radio.

  7. to attempt or threaten to do, engage in, or inflict: to offer battle.

  8. to put forth; exert: to offer resistance.

  9. to present to sight or notice.

  10. to introduce or present for exhibition or performance.

  11. to render (homage, thanks, etc.).

  12. to present or volunteer (oneself) to someone as a spouse.

verb (used without object)
  1. to present itself; occur: Whenever an opportunity offered, he slipped off to town.

  2. to present something as an act of worship or devotion; sacrifice.

  1. to make a proposal or suggestion.

  2. to suggest oneself to someone for marriage; propose.

  3. Archaic. to make an attempt (followed by at).

noun
  1. an act or instance of offering: an offer of help.

  2. the condition of being offered: an offer for sale.

  1. something offered.

  2. a proposal or bid to give or pay something as the price of something else; bid: an offer of $90,000 for the house.

  3. Law. a proposal that requires only acceptance in order to create a contract.

  4. an attempt or endeavor.

  5. a show of intention.

  6. a proposal of marriage.

Origin of offer

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English offren,Old English offrian “to present in worship,” from Latin offerre, equivalent to of-of- + ferre “to bring”; see bear1

synonym study For offer

1. Offer, proffer, tender mean to present for acceptance or refusal. Offer is a common word in general use for presenting something to be accepted or rejected: to offer assistance. Proffer, with the same meaning, is now chiefly a literary word: to proffer one's services. Tender (no longer used in reference to concrete objects) is a ceremonious term for a more or less formal or conventional act: to tender one's resignation.

Other words for offer

Opposites for offer

Other words from offer

  • of·fer·a·ble, adjective
  • of·fer·er, of·fer·or, noun
  • non·of·fer, noun
  • pre·of·fer, noun, verb (used with object)
  • re·of·fer, verb, noun
  • self-offered, adjective
  • un·of·fered, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use offer in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for offer (1 of 2)

offer

/ (ˈɒfə) /


verb
  1. to present or proffer (something, someone, oneself, etc) for acceptance or rejection

  2. (tr) to present as part of a requirement: she offered English as a second subject

  1. (tr) to provide or make accessible: this stream offers the best fishing

  2. (intr) to present itself: if an opportunity should offer

  3. (tr) to show or express willingness or the intention (to do something)

  4. (tr) to put forward (a proposal, opinion, etc) for consideration

  5. (tr) to present for sale

  6. (tr) to propose as payment; bid or tender

  7. (when tr, often foll by up) to present (a prayer, sacrifice, etc) as or during an act of worship

  8. (tr) to show readiness for: to offer battle

  9. (intr) archaic to make a proposal of marriage

  10. (tr; sometimes foll by up or to) engineering to bring (a mechanical piece) near to or in contact with another, and often to proceed to fit the pieces together

noun
  1. something, such as a proposal or bid, that is offered

  2. the act of offering or the condition of being offered

  1. contract law a proposal made by one person that will create a binding contract if accepted unconditionally by the person to whom it is made: See also acceptance

  2. a proposal of marriage

  3. short for offer price

  4. on offer for sale at a reduced price

Origin of offer

1
Old English, from Latin offerre to present, from ob- to + ferre to bring

Derived forms of offer

  • offerer or offeror, noun

British Dictionary definitions for Offer (2 of 2)

Offer

/ (ˈɒfə) /


n acronym for(formerly, in Britain)
  1. Office of Electricity Regulation: merged with Ofgas in 1999 to form Ofgem

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012