adjective

tender

TEHN-duh

adjective

Gentle, loving, or showing warm affection.

"He gave her a tender kiss on the forehead."

"She spoke to the frightened child in a tender voice."

Sore or sensitive when touched.

"The bruise on her arm was still tender a week later."

Soft and easy to cut or chew, especially of meat.

"The steak was slow-cooked until perfectly tender."

noun

A formal offer or bid to supply goods or carry out work, especially for a contract.

"The construction firm submitted a tender for the new hospital wing."

verb

To formally offer or submit something, such as a resignation or a bid.

"She tendered her resignation after the disagreement with management."

How to Use Tender

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDepending on context: gentle and affectionate, sore to the touch, soft in texture, or a formal business offer/bid.

Common mistake

Legal tender means money that must be accepted as payment — it has nothing to do with gentleness or bids.

Common pairings

tender loving care submit a tender tender the resignation legal tender

Word Forms

tenderer comparative, more tender comparative, tendered past tense, tendered past tense, tendered past tense, tenders plural, tenders plural, tenders singular, tenders singular, tenders singular, tenderest superlative, most tender superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

He gave her a _____ kiss on the forehead.

Etymology

The "soft, gentle" sense comes from Latin tener ("soft, delicate") via Old French tendre. The "offer, bid" sense is a separate word from Old French tendre ("to stretch out, offer"), from Latin tendere.

Synonyms

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nesh offer

Related Words

cold offer sensitive

Rhymes for tender

ender gender fender bender render lender sender slender blender spender lavender defender

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nesh offer cold sensitive