DictionarybidGreeting or farewell
verb

bid

Express a greeting or farewell to someone.

We bid our guests farewell as they leave the house.

Etymology

The older verb means to ask or request. In expressions such as bidding farewell, it developed the sense of uttering a wish or greeting addressed to another person.

More examples

  • The host bids everyone a warm welcome.
  • She bade her coworkers goodbye on her last day.
  • He pauses at the door to bid us good night.

Forms

bid · bids · bade · bidden · bidding

Similar words

greet
Means to acknowledge someone on meeting, not on parting.
welcome
Expresses pleasure at someone's arrival, rather than a farewell.