Bid
This is the opposite of the ask, which stipulates the price a seller is willing to accept for a security and the quantity of the security to be sold at that price.

1. An example of a bid in the market would be $23.53 x 1,000, which means that an investor is willing to purchase 1,000 shares at the price of $23.53. If a seller in the market is willing to sell that amount for that price, then the transaction is completed.

2. Market makers are vital to the efficiency and liquidity of the marketplace. By quoting both bid and ask prices on the market, they always allow investors to buy or sell a security if they need to.