Definition of offer

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of·fer    (ôfr, fr) KEY 

VERB:
of·fered, of·fer·ing, of·fers
VERB:
tr.

1. To present for acceptance or rejection; proffer: offered me a drink.
2. 1. To put forward for consideration; propose: offer an opinion.
   2. To present in order to meet a need or satisfy a requirement: offered new statistics in order to facilitate the decision-making process.
3. 1. To make available; afford: The situation offers us the opportunity to learn more.
   2. To present for sale.
   3. To provide; furnish: a hotel that offers conference facilities.
4. To propose as payment; bid.
5. To present as an act of worship: offer up prayers.
6. To exhibit readiness or desire (to do something); volunteer: offered to carry the packages.
7. To put up; mount: partisans who offered strong resistance to the invaders.
8. To threaten: offered to leave without them if they didn't hurry.
9. To produce or introduce on the stage: The repertory group is offering two new plays this season.

VERB:
intr.

1. To present an offering in worship or devotion.
2. To make an offer or proposal, especially of marriage.
3. To present itself: "This plan was dropped, because of its risk, and because a better offered" (T.E. Lawrence).

NOUN:

1. The act of offering: an offer of assistance.
2. Something, such as a suggestion, proposal, bid, or recommendation, that is offered.
3. Law A proposal that if accepted constitutes a legally binding contract.
4. The condition of being offered, especially for sale: thousands of bushels of wheat on offer.
5. 1. An attempt; a try.
   2. A show of intention.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English offren, from Old English offrian, to present in worship, and from Old French offrir, to propose, present, both from Latin offerre, to present, offer : ob-, to ; see ob- + ferre, to bring; see bher-¹ in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
offer·er or offer·or(Noun)

SYNONYMS:
offer, proffer, tender², present²

These verbs mean to put before another for acceptance or rejection. Offer is the basic general term in this group: offered us some tea; a store that offered sizable discounts. Proffer implies voluntary action motivated especially by courtesy or generosity: "Mr. van der Luyden . . . proffered to Newland low-voiced congratulations" (Edith Wharton). To tender is to offer formally: tendered her respects; tendered my resignation. Present suggests formality and often a measure of ceremony: "A footman entered, and presented . . . some mail on a silver tray" (Winston Churchill).