Offering Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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offering

[หˆษ’fษ™rษชล‹ ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

job market

A proposal or bid submitted in competition for a contract or other business.

Synonyms

bid, proposal, submission.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
offering

Used mostly in the context of providing goods or services, especially in business, charity, or religious settings.

  • The companyโ€™s latest offering includes three new smartphone models
  • The church's weekend offering will be donated to the local food bank
proposal

Used when suggesting a plan or idea, often in formal or business settings, as well as in personal settings like marriage.

  • She submitted a proposal for the new marketing campaign
  • His marriage proposal was a complete surprise
bid

Typically used in the context of auctions or competitive scenarios where multiple parties vie for something.

  • He placed a high bid on the antique vase
  • The company made a bid to acquire the smaller firm
submission

Commonly found in contexts where documents, works, or answers are being sent for review or consideration. It may have a slightly formal tone.

  • The deadline for submission of the project is next Monday
  • Her late submission of the report was noted by the professor

Examples of usage

  • The company submitted an offering for the new project.
  • Their offering was the most competitive in terms of pricing.
Context #2 | Noun

religion

A religious act of giving money or gifts to a deity as an act of worship.

Synonyms

donation, gift, sacrifice.

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Word Description / Examples
offering

Can also be used in a business context to describe a product or service that is provided.

  • The company's latest offering is a new smartphone app.
  • They launched a new line of offerings aimed at young professionals.
sacrifice

Used when someone gives up something of value, often in a context involving personal loss or hardship, and can also have religious connotations similar to 'offering'.

  • He made many sacrifices to ensure his family could live comfortably.
  • In ancient times, people made sacrifices to please the gods.
donation

Used when giving money, goods, or time to a cause, charity, or organization, typically to help others or support projects.

  • He made a generous donation to the children's hospital.
  • The charity is collecting donations for disaster relief.
gift

Used to describe something given willingly to someone without payment, usually for a special occasion or as a gesture of kindness.

  • She received a beautiful gift for her birthday.
  • They exchanged gifts during the holiday season.

Examples of usage

  • The offering to the gods was a sign of devotion and gratitude.
  • She made a generous offering at the temple.
Context #3 | Verb

sacrifice

To present or give as an offering to a deity or religious cause.

Synonyms

dedicate, devote, sacrifice.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
offering

Used when presenting something, often as a form of gift, present, or contribution.

  • She made an offering of flowers at the shrine
  • The company announced its latest product offering
sacrifice

Used when giving up something valuable for something else considered more important. Often has a personal or emotional cost, and can carry a negative connotation.

  • She made a great sacrifice by moving to a new city for his career
  • The athlete's sacrifices paid off when he won the gold medal
dedicate

Applied when formally committing something to a purpose or a person, often used in ceremonies and for formal declarations.

  • They dedicated the new library to the founder
  • She dedicated her book to her parents
devote

Used to express commitment of time or resources to a particular task, cause, or person, indicating a strong sense of purpose.

  • He devotes his weekends to volunteering at the shelter
  • She devoted her life to the study of marine biology

Examples of usage

  • The priest offered the fruits to the gods as an act of worship.
  • They offered a lamb in sacrifice.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Cultural Practices

  • Many religions feature offerings, such as food or incense, as a way to honor deities or ancestors.
  • In some cultures, it's customary to offer food to guests as a sign of hospitality and respect.
  • The Day of the Dead in Mexico includes offerings (ofrendas) to honor those who have passed away.

Literature

  • In literature, offerings often symbolize sacrifice, indicating a character's commitment or love.
  • Themes of offering appear in many classic texts, such as in Shakespeareโ€™s works, where gifts convey deeper meanings.
  • Modern novels sometimes use the concept of offering to examine relationships, highlighting emotional exchanges.

Psychology

  • Offering something to others can enhance feelings of connectedness and community.
  • Acts of kindness, such as offering help, can improve mental well-being for both the giver and receiver.
  • Psychologists suggest that the motivation behind an offering can reflect one's values and sense of identity.

Business

  • In business, an offering may refer to a proposal or service presented to clients or customers.
  • Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) occur when companies first offer shares to the public to raise capital.
  • Promotional offerings are common in marketing strategies to attract customers and boost sales.

Origin of 'offering'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'offering' comes from the Old English 'offrung', which means a gift or sacrifice.
  • In the Middle Ages, people often made offerings at church, demonstrating their devotion.
  • It has roots in the Latin 'offerre', meaning to present or bring forth.

The word 'offering' has its origins in Old English, where 'offrian' meant 'to set forth, present, bring to'. It has evolved over time to encompass various meanings, from presenting something in a religious context to submitting a proposal in a business setting. The act of offering has been a significant part of human history across different cultures and religions, symbolizing devotion, generosity, and sacrifice.


See also: offer, offeror, offers.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,555, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.