If you offer something to someone, you ask them if they would like to have it or use it.
If you put something in someone's hand expecting them to take it, and they do take it, don't say that you 'offer' it to them. You say that you give it to them.
If you offer to do something, you say that you are willing to do it.
If someone asks you to do something that they think you will want to do, don't say that they 'offer' you to do it. You say that they invite you to do it.
Imperative |
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offer |
offer |
Noun | 1. | ![]() speech act - the use of language to perform some act |
2. | ![]() contract offer - offer by an employer to contract to pay an employee at a given rate proposition - an offer for a private bargain (especially a request for sexual favors) counteroffer - an offer made by someone who has rejected a prior offer prospectus - a formal written offer to sell securities (filed with the SEC) that sets forth a plan for a (proposed) business enterprise; "a prospectus should contain the facts that an investor needs to make an informed decision" tender offer - an offer to buy shares in a corporation (usually above the market price) for cash or securities or both reward - the offer of money for helping to find a criminal or for returning lost property rights issue, rights offering - an offering of common stock to existing shareholders who hold subscription rights or pre-emptive rights that entitle them to buy newly issued shares at a discount from the price at which they will be offered to the public later; "the investment banker who handles a rights offering usually agrees to buy any shares not bought by shareholders" special - a special offering (usually temporary and at a reduced price) that is featured in advertising; "they are having a special on pork chops" olive branch, peace offering - something offered to an adversary in the hope of obtaining peace twofer - an offer of two for the price of one | |
3. | offer - a usually brief attempt; "he took a crack at it"; "I gave it a whirl" | |
Verb | 1. | offer - make available or accessible, provide or furnish; "The conference center offers a health spa"; "The hotel offers private meeting rooms" |
2. | offer - present for acceptance or rejection; "She offered us all a cold drink" give - proffer (a body part); "She gave her hand to her little sister" give - transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody; "I gave her my money"; "can you give me lessons?"; "She gave the children lots of love and tender loving care" tender - make a tender of; in legal settlements | |
3. | offer - agree freely; "She volunteered to drive the old lady home"; "I offered to help with the dishes but the hostess would not hear of it" | |
4. | offer - put forward for consideration; "He offered his opinion" | |
5. | offer - offer verbally; "extend my greetings"; "He offered his sympathy" | |
6. | offer - make available for sale; "The stores are offering specials on sweaters this week" put up - make available for sale at an auction; "The dealer put up three of his most valuable paintings for auction" market - engage in the commercial promotion, sale, or distribution of; "The company is marketing its new line of beauty products" | |
7. | ![]() by-bid - bid on behalf of someone else subscribe - offer to buy, as of stocks and shares; "The broker subscribed 500 shares" overbid - bid more than the object is worth underbid - bid too low outbid - bid higher than others underbid - bid lower than a competing bidder | |
8. | offer - produce or introduce on the stage; "The Shakespeare Company is offering `King Lear' this month" | |
9. | offer - present as an act of worship; "offer prayers to the gods" sacrifice - make a sacrifice of; in religious rituals worship - attend religious services; "They worship in the traditional manner" | |
10. | offer - mount or put up; "put up a good fight"; "offer resistance" | |
11. | offer - make available; provide; "extend a loan"; "The bank offers a good deal on new mortgages" | |
12. | offer - ask (someone) to marry you; "he popped the question on Sunday night"; "she proposed marriage to the man she had known for only two months"; "The old bachelor finally declared himself to the young woman" request - ask (a person) to do something; "She asked him to be here at noon"; "I requested that she type the entire manuscript" | |
13. | offer - threaten to do something; "I offered to leave the committee if they did not accept my proposal" threaten - to utter intentions of injury or punishment against:"He threatened me when I tried to call the police" |