BID Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

bid 1 of 2

noun

Definition of bid

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

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

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

French authorities instituted overnight curfews in several cities Monday in a bid to control violent cost-of-living protests that have fueled the country’s far right. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026 In 2010, Ackman made a failed bid to merge Borders with Barnes & Noble. — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Verb

And the Pentagon is bidding against foreign governments for the ones that are left. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026 Stay quiet, and the fiber requirement arrives with nothing behind it which leads to every brand in Europe bidding for the same scarce material. — Erik Lagerblad, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bid

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bid

Noun

Well, on Monday, Overshown put those doubts to rest by tying for the team lead with six tackles and recording a game-sealing interception in the fourth quarter to thwart a Philadelphia comeback attempt.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
Butker made his next attempt — a 50-yard field goal to cut the Seahawks’ lead to 13-3 late in the third quarter — before missing from 45 yards midway through the fourth.

— Pete Sweeney October 26, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of attempt

Verb

In August 2022, Garza was ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial and ordered to be jailed until a bed in a state mental health treatment facility was available.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
An Eagle man charged with animal cruelty in the shooting deaths of two caged cats was ordered to serve a total of 14 days in jail after accepting a plea deal in August, according to court records.

— Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of order

Verb

Successful candidates will then be invited to spend a day at the bank’s offices where they are tested on banking regulation, their use of AI, and their ability to build calculations.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Her singing caught the attention of Abboud Saadi, the bassist for Lebanon’s most famous singer, Fairuz, who invited her to a recording session with Bypass Studio owner Ziad Rahbani.

— Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of invite

Verb

To counter these scams, Apple instructed its retail store employees to check every return package and ensure all box components, including the iPhone, are returned in good condition.

— Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026
Lauren Jones, a photographer from Savannah, Georgia, told Glamour that after acne-like rashes appeared on her cheeks, her esthetician instructed her to wash only with cold water and her hands for four weeks.

— Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of instruct

Verb

The person asked a mutual contact to warn Rosman, according to three people familiar with that exchange.

— Ben Smith, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Attendees asked engineers to provide preliminary cost estimates for street lighting running from the stadium connection north to Swepco Road.

— Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of ask

Verb

Lamm told TechCrunch that conventional breeding can produce dogs with poor eyesight or genetic predispositions to cancer.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Beirut City Pop, the latest compilation by archival label Habibi Funk, tells the story of the artists who dared to imagine a life beyond war.

— Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of tell

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“Bid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bid. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of bid

noun

verb

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