to transfer (goods) to or render (services) for another in exchange for money; dispose of to a purchaser for a price: He sold the car to me for $1000.
to deal in; keep or offer for sale: He sells insurance. This store sells my favorite brand.
to make a sale or offer for sale to: He'll sell me the car for $1000.
to persuade or induce (someone) to buy something: The salesman sold me on a more expensive model than I wanted.
to persuade or induce someone to buy (something): The clerk really sold the shoes to me by flattery.
to make sales of: The hot record sold a million copies this month.
to cause to be accepted, especially generally or widely: to sell an idea to the public.
to cause or persuade to accept; convince: to sell the voters on a candidate.
to accept a price for or make a profit of (something not a proper object for such action): to sell one's soul for political power.
to force or exact a price for: The defenders of the fort sold their lives dearly.
Informal. to cheat, betray, or hoax.
verb (used without object),sold,sell·ing.
to engage in selling something: Investment advisors agree that it’s time to sell.
to be sold; to draw sales: His album is selling well.The game sold poorly in Japan.
to offer something for sale: I like this house—will they sell?
to be employed to persuade or induce others to buy, as a salesperson or a clerk in a store: One sister is a cashier and the other sells.
to have a specific price; be offered for sale at the price indicated (followed by at or for): Eggs used to sell at sixty cents a dozen. This shirt sells for thirty dollars.
to be in demand by buyers: On a rainy day, umbrellas really sell.
to win acceptance, approval, or adoption: Here's an idea that'll sell.
noun
an act or method of selling: Your home could be a profitable sell.
Stock Exchange. a security to be sold.
Informal. a cheat; hoax.
Verb Phrases
sell off,to sell, especially at reduced prices, in order to get rid of: The city is selling off a large number of small lots at public auction.
sell out,
to dispose of entirely by selling: They sold out of Johnny's brownies before the bake sale was half over.
to betray (an associate, one's country, one’s principles, a cause, etc.): He would never sell out to the enemy.
sell up,British. to sell out: She was forced to sell up her entire stock of crystal.
Idioms for sell
sell someone a bill of goods, Informal. bill of goods (def. 3).
sell short. short (def. 49).
Origin of sell
1
First recorded before 900; Middle English sellen, Old English sellan, originally, “to give,” hence, “to give up (someone) to an enemy, betray, exchange for money”; cognate with Old Norse selja, Low German sellen, Gothic saljan “to give up, sell,” originally, “to cause to take”; akin to Greek heleîn “to take, grasp”
SYNONYMS FOR sell
1 exchange, vend.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR sell ON THESAURUS.COM
ANTONYMS FOR sell
1 buy.
SEE ANTONYMS FOR sell ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for sell
1. See trade.
OTHER WORDS FROM sell
sell·a·ble,adjective
Words nearby sell
selkie, Selkirk, Selkirk Mountains, Selkirk Rex, Selkirkshire, sell, Sella, sell a bill of goods, Sellafield, sellar, sella turcica
The Dallas Cowboys sell out their state-of-the art football stadium.
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As more people come online, the most basic tasks—such as going out to the market to sell produce—will become more efficient.
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Along the Prado they used to sell slaves on the auction block, too.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind|Brin-Jonathan Butler|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Question 9: If the female captive was impregnated by her owner, can he then sell her?
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We sell about $5,000 of music per month through iTunes and Loudr.
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When I sell a ticket to Shoshone, I'm the ticket agent, and nothing else.
Good Indian|B. M. Bower
The chiefs fought fiercely, like men who know that their fate is sealed, and are determined to sell their lives dearly.
Mark Seaworth|William H.G. Kingston
If you think it necessary, let me know when you sell; but, however, do as you please.
Private Letters of Edward Gibbon (1753-1794) Volume 1 (of 2)|Edward Gibbon
They could hardly get their lumber out, and there are very few people to sell it to if they put up a mill.
A Damaged Reputation|Harold Bindloss
He did this because he wanted to sell some property that he could not sell if Jemmy were alive.
Stories of American Life and Adventure|Edward Eggleston
British Dictionary definitions for sell
sell
/ (sɛl) /
verbsells, sellingorsold
to dispose of or transfer or be disposed of or transferred to a purchaser in exchange for money or other consideration; put or be on sale
to deal in (objects, property, etc)he sells used cars for a living
(tr)to give up or surrender for a price or rewardto sell one's honour
to promote or facilitate the sale of (objects, property, etc)publicity sells many products
to induce or gain acceptance ofto sell an idea
(intr)to be in demand on the marketthese dresses sell well in the spring
(tr)informalto deceive or cheat
(tr foll by on) to persuade to accept or approve (of)to sell a buyer on a purchase
sell down the riverinformalto betray
sell oneself
to convince someone else of one's potential or worth
to give up one's moral or spiritual standards, etc
sell short
informalto disparage or belittle
financeto sell securities or goods without owning them in anticipation of buying them before delivery at a lower price
noun
the act or an instance of sellingCompare hard sell, soft sell
informal
a trick, hoax, or deception
Irisha great disappointmentthe service in the hotel was a sell
See also sell in, sell off, sell out, sell up
Derived forms of sell
sellable, adjective
Word Origin for sell
Old English sellan to lend, deliver; related to Old Norse selja to sell, Gothic saljan to offer sacrifice, Old High German sellen to sell, Latin cōnsilium advice