auction
1 of 2noun
auc·tion ˈȯk-shən 
1
: a sale of property to the highest bidder
2
: the act or process of bidding in some card games
auction
2 of 2verb
auctioned; auctioning ˈȯk-sh(ə-)niŋ
transitive verb
: to sell at auction
auctioned off his library
Example Sentences
Noun She bought the desk at an auction. He made several bids at the auction. Verb They auctioned a similar desk last year. The house was auctioned last week.
Recent Examples on the Web
Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 12 Sep. 2022 After the queen’s death was announced, the project said that its current 73rd QueenE NFT auction would be its last. Sophie Mellor, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2022 In that spirit, Phillips in Association With Bacs & Russo is holding its first high-value online auction, Geneva Sessions, curated by the team’s watch specialists. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2022 Now, 50 years later, Bowie’s handwritten lyrics for the song will go to auction, where they’re expected to fetch $35,000 to $46,000. Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Sep. 2022 There are screenings, of course, and an auction, and a fellow from Chicago named Dennis Scott comes up to play a theater organ. Detroit Free Press, 1 Sep. 2022 The gala began with flowing cocktails and Champagne, followed by dinner and a special live auction, which contributed over $330,000 in fundraising to the night’s final total. Julie Tong, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2022 Without Meadow Haven and the few other reputable rescue groups in the area, most of these horses would likely have been sent to auction, which lead to the slaughterhouse. Richard A. Marini, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Aug. 2022 Scramble-format tournament starts at 1 p.m., followed by dinner featuring awards, raffles, an auction, games and more. Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Aug. 2022 Peyton Forte, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 The police department will auction off approximately 100 items. Shepard Price, San Antonio Express-News, 18 Aug. 2022 The government would auction off more public lands for oil drilling, for instance, and the Democratic leadership promised to expedite energy-infrastructure permits in West Virginia, his home state. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2022 For instance, artists can auction a backstage photo or an exclusive video. Igor Beuker, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2022 RM Sotheby’s will auction off a 1991 XJR-15 as part of its upcoming Monterey Car Week sales slate. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 4 Aug. 2022 The government will also auction four- and eight-week bills, as well as 30-year Treasury Inflation Protected Securities, on Thursday. Peyton Forte, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2022 The bill would require the federal government to auction off more public lands and waters for oil drilling and expand tax credits for coal and gas-burning plants that rely on carbon capture technology. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2022 The resort closed its doors in March 2020 after attempts to auction the resort were unsuccessful. Megan Jones, Chicago Tribune, 27 July 2022 See More
Noun
The online auction, which started last month, ends on Wednesday. Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 12 Sep. 2022 After the queen’s death was announced, the project said that its current 73rd QueenE NFT auction would be its last. Sophie Mellor, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2022 In that spirit, Phillips in Association With Bacs & Russo is holding its first high-value online auction, Geneva Sessions, curated by the team’s watch specialists. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2022 Now, 50 years later, Bowie’s handwritten lyrics for the song will go to auction, where they’re expected to fetch $35,000 to $46,000. Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Sep. 2022 There are screenings, of course, and an auction, and a fellow from Chicago named Dennis Scott comes up to play a theater organ. Detroit Free Press, 1 Sep. 2022 The gala began with flowing cocktails and Champagne, followed by dinner and a special live auction, which contributed over $330,000 in fundraising to the night’s final total. Julie Tong, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2022 Without Meadow Haven and the few other reputable rescue groups in the area, most of these horses would likely have been sent to auction, which lead to the slaughterhouse. Richard A. Marini, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Aug. 2022 Scramble-format tournament starts at 1 p.m., followed by dinner featuring awards, raffles, an auction, games and more. Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Aug. 2022 Verb
The government will auction four- and eight-week bills Thursday. Peyton Forte, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 The police department will auction off approximately 100 items. Shepard Price, San Antonio Express-News, 18 Aug. 2022 The government would auction off more public lands for oil drilling, for instance, and the Democratic leadership promised to expedite energy-infrastructure permits in West Virginia, his home state. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2022 For instance, artists can auction a backstage photo or an exclusive video. Igor Beuker, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2022 RM Sotheby’s will auction off a 1991 XJR-15 as part of its upcoming Monterey Car Week sales slate. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 4 Aug. 2022 The government will also auction four- and eight-week bills, as well as 30-year Treasury Inflation Protected Securities, on Thursday. Peyton Forte, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2022 The bill would require the federal government to auction off more public lands and waters for oil drilling and expand tax credits for coal and gas-burning plants that rely on carbon capture technology. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2022 The resort closed its doors in March 2020 after attempts to auction the resort were unsuccessful. Megan Jones, Chicago Tribune, 27 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Latin auction-, auctio, from augēre to increase — more at eke
First Known Use
Noun
1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1723, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing auction
Kids Definition
auction 1 of 2
noun
auc·tion ˈȯk-shən
: a public sale at which things are sold to those who offer to pay the most
auction
2 of 2verb
auctioned; auctioning
: to sell at an auction The art was auctioned today.
Legal Definition
auction
noun
auc·tion
: a public sale of property to the highest bidder see also reserve
auctions 1 of 2
noun
as in sales
a public event at which things are sold to the people who offer to pay the most She bought the desk at an auction. He made several bids at the auction. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- sales
- transactions
- negotiations
- fairs
- bargains
- deals
- purchases
- trades
- silent auctions
- buys
- haggles
- steals
- closeouts
- clearances
- fire sales
- garage sales
- tag sales
- jumble sales
- rummage sales
- yard sales
auctions
2 of 2verb
as in exchanges
Synonyms & Similar Words
- exchanges
- swaps
- purchases
- bargains
- merchandises
- markets
- trades
- rebuys
- deals
- barters
- resells
- buys
- transacts
- merchandizes
- supplies
- sells
- horse-trades
- negotiates
- retails
- traffics
- wholesales
- vends
- bootlegs
- fences
- corners
- fair-trades
- picks up
- distributes
- black-markets
- peddles
- monopolizes
- takes
- smuggles
- engrosses
- day-trades
- undersells
- speculates
- invests
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- boycotts
- blacks
- blackballs
