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Glite Dictionary
to dicker

to dicker

3 8.4
To bargain about a price before buying something
  • verb
  • /ˈdɪkər/
  • US
translation icon : regatear
  • Bob has spent almost all of the time since 4:30 p.m. dickering with muleteers to take us to Topia—a four-day trip, and a little better than way across the mountains to Culiacan.
  • dicker over price
  • room to dicker
  • time to dicker

Examples

  • In my opinion, they are much more valuable to our country than the Washington bureaucrats dickering with our tax dollars.

    Blog text (4)

  • I'd dickered over the price in order to win his confidence.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • That way, when they buy up everything you own at discount prices, you can dicker with them.

    Blog text (21)

  • Now we're just dickering on the price.

    Blog text (14)

  • "I told them we were dickering."

    Fiction book (1993)

  • I could have dickered for access to hunting rights up above that camp of theirs.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • A bit of light dickering over the price of a mare was taking place when Silas looked up to see Rufus Collins entering the barn.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The pawnbroker didn't seem in the least offended, and I listened as they dickered back and forth until Lefty got him down to the price he wanted.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • The buyer and seller dickered over the price until they reached an agreement.

  • Before finalizing the project, they dickered about the costs and deadlines for weeks.

Synonyms

to negotiate
vsto dicker
  • Formal
801 3.7

Try to reach an agreement by talking, often about business terms

applies to everyday bargaining over price rather than formal talks
to bargain
vsto dicker
103 2.4

To discuss the price or terms to get a better deal

focuses on negotiating the agreement terms rather than just lowering price
to haggle
vsto dicker
26 3.3

To argue about the price to try to pay less

negotiates more broadly without the strong persistent arguing
to horse-trade
vsto dicker
  • Informal
1 7.3

To make a deal by talking in a tough, smart way

negotiates without the strong shrewd or tough strategy
to chaffer
vsto dicker
  • Archaic
9.9

Talk with someone to get a lower price or a better deal

focuses on negotiating overall deal terms rather than only direct price arguing
to higgle
vsto dicker
  • Archaic
9.9

To argue about the price to try to make it lower

negotiates without the same persistent wrangling intensity in talks
to huckster
vsto dicker
8.6

To argue or bargain to change the price

focuses on negotiating deal terms generally rather than only in sales

Antonyms

to accept
793 1.0

To take something someone offers, for example a gift or invitation

How Intense

to haggle
26 3.3
to dicker
  • US
3 8.4
to negotiate
  • Formal
801 3.7
to discuss
∞ 1.6

Surface Forms

dicker infinitive
dickered past
dickered past participle
dickering present participle
dickers third person singular

Etymology

Dicker is easy to remember: picture two market traders quietly making small, back-and-forth offers over a lot of goods until one accepts a price. So, dicker means 'to haggle' or 'to bargain' over the terms of a deal.