offer

[ aw-fer, of-er ]

verb (used with object)

1. to present for acceptance or rejection; proffer:

   He offered me a cigarette.

   Antonyms: withhold, withdraw

2. to propose or put forward for consideration:

   to offer a suggestion.

   Synonyms: propose, move, give

3. to propose or volunteer (to do something):

   She offered to accompany me.

4. to make a show of intention (to do something):

   We did not offer to go first.

5. to give, make, or promise:

   She offered no response.

6. to present solemnly as an act of worship or devotion, as to God, a deity or a saint; sacrifice.
7. to present for sale:

   He offered the painting to me at a reduced price.

8. to tender or bid as a price:

   to offer ten dollars for a radio.

9. to attempt or threaten to do, engage in, or inflict:

   to offer battle.

10. to put forth; exert:

    to offer resistance.

11. to present to sight or notice.
12. to introduce or present for exhibition or performance.
13. to render (homage, thanks, etc.).
14. 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.
3. to make a proposal or suggestion.
4. to suggest oneself to someone for marriage; propose.
5. Archaic. to make an attempt (followed by at ).

noun

1. an act or instance of offering:

   an offer of help.

   Antonyms: denial, refusal

2. the condition of being offered:

   an offer for sale.

3. something offered.
4. a proposal or bid to give or pay something as the price of something else; bid:

   an offer of $90,000 for the house.

5. Law. a proposal that requires only acceptance in order to create a contract.
6. an attempt or endeavor.
7. a show of intention.
8. a proposal of marriage.

offer

¹

/ 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

3. tr to provide or make accessible

   this stream offers the best fishing

4. intr to present itself

   if an opportunity should offer

5. tr to show or express willingness or the intention (to do something)
6. tr to put forward (a proposal, opinion, etc) for consideration
7. tr to present for sale
8. tr to propose as payment; bid or tender
9. whentr, often foll by up to present (a prayer, sacrifice, etc) as or during an act of worship
10. tr to show readiness for

    to offer battle

11. archaic.
    intr to make a proposal of marriage
12. 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
3. 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
4. a proposal of marriage
5. short for offer price
6. on offer
   for sale at a reduced price

Offer

²

/ ˈɒfə /

acronym for

1. Office of Electricity Regulation: merged with Ofgas in 1999 to form Ofgem

Derived Forms

• ˈofferer, noun

Other Words From

• 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-offered adjective
• un·offered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of offer¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of offer¹

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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

“I love this city. It’s cool. It has so much to offer,” he says with a charming smile.

From Los Angeles Times

Contemporary works just yank you out of the exciting sense of historical discovery that the best museum exhibitions offer.

From Los Angeles Times

In September, Best Friends announced it was withdrawing an offer of financial support to the city, stating that it would take several million dollars in funding to other shelters that “demonstrate a greater sense of urgency and commitment to save at-risk pets.”

From Los Angeles Times

Or, to offer another example of Trump’s treatment of “Morning Joe’s” co-hosts, four years ago he suggested that “MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough had committed murder.”

From Salon

They also offer their insights about why reproductive rights remain popular, even when the politicians who champion them aren’t.

From Slate

Related Words

• action
• attempt
• bid
• overture