tender

TEN-dur/ˈtɛn.dɚ/UKTEN-duh/ˈtɛn.də(ɹ)/

Adjectivetenderer, tenderest

Verbtenders, tendering, tendered

Noun pluraltenders

23 meanings of tender

Practice

1
easy to chewadjective
Soft and easy to chew, like well-cooked meat.
Like meat so soft your fork slides through it without effort.
The slow-cooked beef was so tender it fell apart with a fork.
These carrots turn tender after twenty minutes of steaming.
Similarsoft, succulent
Oppositetough, chewy
2
adjective
Gentle and loving. Showing soft, kind feelings or making people feel them.
Like the soft, careful way a parent holds a newborn.
She gave the baby a tender kiss on the forehead.
His voice was tender as he comforted the crying child.
UsagePeople say tender loving care.
Similargentle, loving, affectionate, fond, warm
Oppositeharsh, cold, unkind
Note
3
soreadjective
Sore and painful when you touch it.
Like a bruise that hurts the moment you press on it.
The bruise on his arm was still tender days later.
Her sunburned shoulders felt tender under the towel.
UsageSay a part of the body is tender to the touch.
Similarsore, painful, sensitive
Note
4
present formallyverbformaltransitive
To formally offer or give something to someone.
Like politely holding out something you want to give.
She decided to tender her resignation to the board.
They tender their thanks to everyone who helped this year.
UsageUsually tender your resignation. In daily talk, say offer.
Similaroffer, submit, present, proffer
Oppositewithdraw
Note
5
nouncountable
A formal offer, especially one to do work, supply goods, or buy something at a stated price.
Like a written price you put forward when you want a job.
The company sent in a tender for the new bridge project.
Their tender was the lowest, so they won the job.
UsageFirms submit a tender for a job.
Similarbid, offer, proposal, quotation
Note
6
payment methodnoununcountable
A way of paying for something, such as cash or a card.
Like the different ways you can pay: coins, bills, or a card.
You can use any tender you like, such as cash or a card.
The shop takes cash, cards, and other forms of tender.
UsageOften used in legal tender, money the law recognizes for paying debts.
Similarpayment, currency
Note
7
cut of chickennouncountable or uncountable
The soft strip of meat from the inside of a chicken's breast.
Like the small, soft strip hidden under a bigger piece of meat.
She coated the chicken tender in breadcrumbs before frying it.
The tender pulls away easily from the rest of the breast.
UsageOften chicken tenders.
Similartenderloin
Note
8
young in yearsadjective
Young and without much experience of life.
Like a young plant that has not yet grown strong.
He left home at a tender age to work in the city.
She started playing the piano at the tender age of four.
UsageSay at the tender age of six.
Similaryoung, early
Oppositeadvanced, mature
Note
9
adjective
Soft and delicate, so easily bruised or damaged, like fruit or young plants that die in cold weather.
Like a flower petal that tears if you are not careful.
The young shoots are tender and break at the lightest touch.
Handle the ripe peaches gently because they are very tender.
Similardelicate, fragile, soft
Oppositetough, hardy, robust
10
nouncountable
A boat or ship that serves other ships, bringing supplies or taking people between a big ship and land.
Like a floating workshop and store for other ships.
A small tender brought fuel and fresh water out to the big ship.
Sailors returned to the tender for repairs and supplies.
Note
11
coal carnouncountable
A train car pulled behind a steam engine to carry coal and water.
Like a fuel tank on wheels pulled along behind the engine.
The steam engine pulled a tender full of coal.
Workers shoveled coal from the tender into the firebox.
Note
12
put in a bidverbtransitive or intransitive
To formally offer to buy something, supply goods, or do a job for a stated price.
Like raising your hand at an auction to offer a price.
Buyers can tender for the property online this week.
Several firms tender for the contract each spring.
UsageSay tender for a contract.
Similarbid, offer

Less common meanings

13
delicate matteradjective
Likely to cause hurt feelings, so it must be handled with care.
Like a sore spot you have to touch very gently.
They did not talk about the tender subject of her illness.
Money can be a tender topic between old friends.
UsageSay a tender subject.
Similarsensitive, delicate, touchy, sore
Note
14
servantnounobsolete
A person who looks after or serves another person.
Note
15
adjectiveobsolete
Careful not to harm or spoil something you care about.
The civil authority should be tender of the honour of God and religion.
a. 1694, John Tillotson, The Advantages of Religion to SocietiesHere, tender means careful to protect, so they should guard the honor of God.
Note
16
nounobsoletecountable or uncountable
Kind care and gentle concern shown toward another person.
Stay, and breath awhile. Thou haſt redeem'd thy loſt opinion And ſhew'd thou makeſt ſome tender of my life In this faire reſcue thou haſt brought to mee.
c. 1597, William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth,”Here, tender means care or concern, so you showed you care about my life.
Note
17
diver's helpernouncountable
A person on a diving team who helps a diver from the surface but does not go underwater.
Like a helper on shore holding the rope for a swimmer in deep water.
The tender held the line while the diver went down.
A good tender watches the diver's air supply at all times.
Note
18
crew support boatsverbintransitive
To do work aboard a tender, a small boat that helps a larger ship.
She likes to tender on a supply boat for the salmon fleet each summer.
My cousin spent July tendering for the fishing boats up north.
19
adverb
In a gentle, loving, and caring way toward someone.
Love me tender, and hold me close.
She sang the old song soft and tender to the baby.
UsageIn normal writing, say tenderly.
Similargently, softly, lovingly, affectionately
Oppositeroughly, harshly
Note
20
adjectiveobsolete
Loved and very dear, so that others want to care for it.
I love Valentine, Whose life's as tender to me as my soul!
c. 1590, William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”Here, tender means dear and precious, so his life matters to me.
Note
21
verbarchaic
To feel love and gentle care for someone.
The angrie king hath banished me the court: And therefore as thou louest and tendrest me, Be thou my aduocate vnto these peeres.
1594, Christopher Marlow[e], The Troublesome Raigne and Lamentable Death of Edward the SecondHere, tendrest means care for someone fondly and kindly.
And ſo good Capulet, which name I tender As dearely as my owne, be ſatisfied.
c. 1591, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”
Note
22
verbarchaic
To make something soft, weak, or easy to harm.
Note
23
adjective
Of a boat, leaning over too easily when the wind blows.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of tender apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–3, 7–9, 13, 15–16, 20

From Latin tener, meaning "soft, delicate," which came into English through Old French.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Tender derives from Latin tener through Old French. en.wiktionary.org
Latin tener means “soft, delicate.” en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 19

This adverb comes from the adjective tender.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

This origin describes the adverb tender, meaning tenderly, rather than a noun. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 21–22

This verb comes from the adjective tender.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

The verb tender meaning to make tender or regard fondly derives from the adjective tender. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 10–11, 14, 17–18

From the verb tend plus the ending -er, meaning one who tends.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Tender is formed from the verb tend and the suffix -er. en.wiktionary.org
The resulting noun means one who tends. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 4–6, 12

From Old French tendre, meaning "to stretch out."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Tender derives from Old French tendre. en.wiktionary.org
The Old French source tendre means “to stretch out.” en.wiktionary.org