to present or hold out (something) for acceptance or rejection: [ ~ + obj]:to offer a drink.[ ~ + obj + to + obj]:He offered a drink to his guests.[ ~ + obj + obj]:He offered his guests a drink.
to propose or put forward for others to consider: [ ~ + obj]:I offered a suggestion.[ ~ + obj + to + obj]:I offered a suggestion to them.[ ~ + obj + obj]:I offered them a suggestion.[ used with quotations]:"We could cut back on costs,'' I offered.
[ ~ + to + verb ] to show willingness (to do something):I offered to go first.
to present solemnly as an act of worship to God or to a god: [ ~ + obj]:Let us offer thanks.[ ~ + obj + to + obj]:In the Eucharist, the priest offered the bread and wine to God.[ ~ + obj + obj]:They offered the gods sacrifices.[ ~ + obj + up + to +obj]:offering their prayers up to God.[ ~ + up + obj + to + obj ]:offering up their prayers to God.
to present or provide, as for sale: [ ~ + obj]:This car offers anti-lock brakes at a low price.[ ~ + obj + obj]:Our company offers you low prices.[ ~ + obj + to +obj]:The company offers high quality to its customers.
to propose or present as a price for buying something: [ ~ + obj]:They offered a low bid of $50,000.[ ~ + obj + obj]:They offered us a low price of $50,000.[ ~ + obj + to + obj]:They offered $100,000 to the homeowners.
to put forth; do or perform: [ ~ + obj]:to offer resistance.[ ~ + obj + obj]:He offered the police no resistance.[ ~ + obj + to + obj]:He offered no resistance to the police.
[ ~ + obj] to give, make, or promise:offered no response to the question.
[no obj] to present itself; occur:A sudden opportunity offered.
to present for acceptance or rejection; proffer:He offered me a cigarette.
to propose or put forward for consideration:to offer a suggestion.
to propose or volunteer (to do something):She offered to accompany me.
to make a show of intention (to do something):We did not offer to go first.
to give, make, or promise:She offered no response.
to present solemnly as an act of worship or devotion, as to God, a deity or a saint; sacrifice.
to present for sale:He offered the painting to me at a reduced price.
to tender or bid as a price:to offer ten dollars for a radio.
to attempt or threaten to do, engage in, or inflict:to offer battle.
to put forth; exert:to offer resistance.
to present to sight or notice.
to introduce or present for exhibition or performance.
to render (homage, thanks, etc.).
to present or volunteer (oneself ) to someone as a spouse.
v.i.
to present itself; occur:Whenever an opportunity offered, he slipped off to town.
to present something as an act of worship or devotion; sacrifice.
to make a proposal or suggestion.
to suggest oneself to someone for marriage; propose.
[Archaic.]to make an attempt (fol. by at).
n.
an act or instance of offering:an offer of help.
the condition of being offered:an offer for sale.
something offered.
a proposal or bid to give or pay something as the price of something else; bid:an offer of $90,000 for the house.
Lawa proposal that requires only acceptance in order to create a contract.
an attempt or endeavor.
a show of intention.
a proposal of marriage.
Latin offerre, equivalent. to of-of- + ferre to bring, bear1
Middle English offren, Old English offrian to present in worship bef. 900
of′fer•a•ble, adj. of′fer•er, of′fer•or, n.
1.See corresponding entry in UnabridgedOffer,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.
2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged give, move, propose.
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged withdraw, withhold.
20.See corresponding entry in Unabridged refusal, denial.