market

American  

[mahr-kit] / ˈmɑr kɪt /

noun

• markets
  plural

1. an open place or a covered building where buyers and sellers convene for the sale of goods; a marketplace.

   a farmers' market.

2. a store for the sale of food.

   a meat market.

3. a meeting of people for selling and buying.

4. the assemblage of people at such a meeting.

5. trade or traffic, especially as regards a particular commodity.

   the market in cotton.

6. a body of persons carrying on extensive transactions in a specified commodity.

   the cotton market.

7. the field of trade or business.

   the best shoes in the market.

8. demand for a commodity.

   an unprecedented market for leather.

9. a body of existing or potential buyers for specific goods or services.

   the health-food market.

10. a region in which goods and services are bought, sold, or used.

    the foreign market; the New England market.

11. current price or value.

    a rising market for shoes.

12. stock market.

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verb (used without object)

• markets,
  present (3rd person singular)
• marketed,
  past participle,  past
• marketing
  present participle

1. to buy or sell in a market; deal.

2. to buy food and provisions for the home.

verb (used with object)

• markets,
  present (3rd person singular)
• marketed,
  past participle,  past
• marketing
  present participle

1. to advertise (something) to a target audience or for a recommended use: This movie was marketed as a horror film, rather than a drama.

   The vacation homes are marketed to retirees and other seniors.

   This movie was marketed as a horror film, rather than a drama.

2. to carry or send to market for disposal.

   to market produce every week.

3. to dispose of in a market; sell.

   Synonyms:

   peddle, merchandise, vend

idioms

1. at the market, at the prevailing price in the open market.

2. on the market, for sale; available.

   Fresh asparagus will be on the market this week.

3. in the market for, ready to buy; interested in buying.

   I'm in the market for a new car.

market British  

/ ˈmɑːkɪt /

noun

1. 1. an event or occasion, usually held at regular intervals, at which people meet for the purpose of buying and selling merchandise

   2. ( as modifier )

      market day

2. a place, such as an open space in a town, at which a market is held

3. a shop that sells a particular merchandise

   an antique market

4. business or trade in a commodity as specified

   the sugar market

5. the trading or selling opportunities provided by a particular group of people

   the foreign market

6. demand for a particular product or commodity

   there is no market for furs here

7. See stock market

8. See market price market value

9. at the current price

10. to wish to buy or acquire

11. available for purchase

12. 1. to speculate on a stock exchange

    2. to act aggressively or unscrupulously in one's own commercial interests

13. a market characterized by excess supply and thus favourable to buyers

14. a market characterized by excess demand and thus favourable to sellers

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verb

1. (tr) to offer or produce for sale

2. (intr) to buy or deal in a market

market More Idioms  

1. see corner the market; drug on the market; flea market; in the market for; on the market; play the market; price out of the market.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• marketer
  noun
• nonmarket
  noun
• submarket
  noun
• premarket
  verb
• remarket
  verb (used with object)
• undermarket
  verb (used with object)
• multimarket
  adjective
• unmarketed
  adjective
• well-marketed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• markets
  plural

Participles

• marketing
  present
• marketed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• market
  simple
• markets
  simple
• have marketed
  perfect
• has marketed
  perfect
• am marketing
  progressive
• are marketing
  progressive
• is marketing
  progressive
• have been marketing
  perfect progressive
• has been marketing
  perfect progressive

Past

• marketed
  simple
• had marketed
  perfect
• was marketing
  progressive
• were marketing
  progressive
• had been marketing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will market
  simple
• will have marketed
  perfect
• will be marketing
  progressive
• will have been marketing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of market

First recorded in 1100–1150; Middle English market, market(t)e, markat(t)e, late Old English market, from Vulgar Latin marcātus (assumed), from Latin mercātus “trading, traffic, market”; see origin at merchant ( def. )

Explanation

Market is both a noun and a verb that have to do with selling. Companies that successfully market potato chips make people buy a big bag at the market. Are you in the market for a new pair of jeans? That means you are looking to buy. You might be the market, or likely customers, for a certain brand. The cost of those jeans will be whatever the market can bear, meaning the most profit that can be made, either by selling fewer pairs at high cost or lots of pairs at a lower cost. But if you buy them on the so-called black market, you might get a bargain price — only to find your new jeans aren't authentic — knock-offs of the real thing.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

market markets marketed marketing

There are currently 42 million active film camera users globally, more than a third of these aged 18–30 and largely influenced by social media trends, according to a market research report, external last year.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

To an extent, a smaller supply of potential workers suggests that the labor market can be considered healthy even if there aren’t as many jobs being created as in the past.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

That is because the economy relies on two big engines in the labor market: growth in the workforce, and growth in how much workers get done, or productivity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

If you are worried that a stock market at a record high might be headed for a decline, it might be time to rethink your investment strategy.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026

To invent a new market was only a matter of finding a new asset to hock.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Australian bond markets will focus on the Reserve Bank of Australia’s policy meeting.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

As Berceren explains, “This means long-term yields can remain elevated even when markets anticipate rate cuts.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026

They added that these markets were "Designed to support local and independent businesses" and would offer a "cost-effective way for traders to showcase and sell their products."

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

It’s also introduced a volatility to the markets that may be unprecedented.

From Slate ● Aug. 7, 2026

If they found a great deal, they could keep some to trade in the markets.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

Late Stage was founded in 2015 and marketed itself to individual investors as a way to access hot tech companies before they went public.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

"It's not a sought-after taste in wines, so even if they're still drinkable, they won't be marketed," he predicted.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

The fire pit was marketed as “easy and safe to use,” according to the lawsuit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

FLAG’s online store sells Adams’ personal books — including “Alpha Kings” and “From Mar-a-Lago to Mars,” several marketed as signed copies for as much as $40 — alongside its own educational materials.

From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026

The first is that it has jurisdiction only over foods shipped in interstate commerce; foods grown and marketed within a state are entirely outside its sphere of authority, no matter what the violation.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

No matter which internet service provider you choose, it’s important to read between the lines of the marketing language and promotional rates.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026

The chain is gathering momentum while archrival McDonald’s is grappling with challenges in its U.S. business, with traffic declining after recent promotional offerings and marketing failed to hit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

I couldn’t help but wonder if my therapist was part of the restaurant’s marketing team.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

Rapid growth will likely require store openings, more exposure to retailers or more marketing spending, all of which could put pressure on margins.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

I was munching on a bright red one I’d picked up during my afternoon marketing when I came across an advertisement in the newspaper that made me jump out of my chair.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Related Words

• advertise
• display
• retail