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offer
/ˈɒfər/
to present something for acceptance
She offered me a cup of tea.
She presented me with a cup of tea as a gesture of kindness.
general
to present something for acceptance or consideration
The company offered a bonus to its employees.
The company presented a bonus to its employees as an incentive.
Can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
general
a proposal or suggestion made to someone
He made an offer to buy the house.
He proposed to purchase the house.
Often used in business and commercial transactions.
Collocations
offer a solutionto propose a way to solve a problemoffer assistanceto provide helpoffer an apologyto express regret
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Verb vs. Noun
Remember that 'offer' can be both a verb (to present something) and a noun (a proposal or suggestion).
Gold Rule
Formal vs. Informal
'Offer' can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is often more formal than 'suggest'.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'offeren', from Old French 'offerir', from Latin 'offerre' meaning 'to present or bring forward'.
Usage Notes
The word 'offer' can be both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it means to present something for acceptance. As a noun, it refers to a proposal or suggestion.
Word Breakdown
off
away from
prefixer
one who
suffixEnglish Dictionary