sell
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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sells,
present (3rd person singular)
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sold,
past participle, past
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selling
present participle
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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.
- Antonyms:
- buy
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to deal in; keep or offer for sale.
He sells insurance. This store sells my favorite brand.
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to make a sale or offer for sale to.
He'll sell me the car for $1000.
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to persuade or induce (someone) to buy something.
The salesman sold me on a more expensive model than I wanted.
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to persuade or induce someone to buy (something).
The clerk really sold the shoes to me by flattery.
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to make sales of.
The hot record sold a million copies this month.
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to cause to be accepted, especially generally or widely.
to sell an idea to the public.
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to cause or persuade to accept; convince.
to sell the voters on a candidate.
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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.
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to force or exact a price for.
The defenders of the fort sold their lives dearly.
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Informal. to cheat, betray, or hoax.
verb (used without object)
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sells,
present (3rd person singular)
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sold,
past participle, past
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selling
present participle
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to engage in selling something.
Investment advisors agree that it’s time to sell.
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to be sold; to draw sales: The game sold poorly in Japan.
His album is selling well.
The game sold poorly in Japan.
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to offer something for sale.
I like this house—will they sell?
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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.
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to have a specific price; be offered for sale at the price indicated (followed by at orfor ).
Eggs used to sell at sixty cents a dozen. This shirt sells for thirty dollars.
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to be in demand by buyers.
On a rainy day, umbrellas really sell.
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to win acceptance, approval, or adoption.
Here's an idea that'll sell.
noun
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an act or method of selling.
Your home could be a profitable sell.
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Stock Exchange. a security to be sold.
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Informal. a cheat; hoax.
verb phrase
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sell out
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to dispose of entirely by selling.
They sold out of Johnny's brownies before the bake sale was half over.
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to betray (an associate, one's country, one’s principles, a cause, etc.).
He would never sell out to the enemy.
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sell up to sell out.
She was forced to sell up her entire stock of crystal.
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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.
idioms
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sell someone a bill of goods, bill of goods.
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sell short. short.
noun
verb
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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
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to deal in (objects, property, etc)
he sells used cars for a living
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(tr) to give up or surrender for a price or reward
to sell one's honour
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to promote or facilitate the sale of (objects, property, etc)
publicity sells many products
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to induce or gain acceptance of
to sell an idea
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(intr) to be in demand on the market
these dresses sell well in the spring
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informal (tr) to deceive or cheat
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to persuade to accept or approve (of)
to sell a buyer on a purchase
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informal to betray
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to convince someone else of one's potential or worth
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to give up one's moral or spiritual standards, etc
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-
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informal to disparage or belittle
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finance to sell securities or goods without owning them in anticipation of buying them before delivery at a lower price
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noun
Synonym Usage
See trade.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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sellsimple
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sellssimple
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have soldperfect
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has soldperfect
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am sellingprogressive
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are sellingprogressive
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is sellingprogressive
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have been sellingperfect progressive
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has been sellingperfect progressive
Past
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soldsimple
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had soldperfect
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was sellingprogressive
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were sellingprogressive
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had been sellingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of sell
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”
Explanation
To sell is to exchange a thing or a service for money. You could sell lemonade from a table on the sidewalk, or sell hotdogs at a baseball game. When a business or store carries certain products for purchase, they sell those things; a car lot sells automobiles, and a bookstore sells books and magazines. Sometimes people say that an item "sells at" or "sells for" a certain price: "Normally, those candy bars sell for a dollar each." When something sells out, it's totally gone, but when a person sells out, they give up their principles for money or popularity.
Vocabulary lists containing sell
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
All he wanted to know was, would Walter be willing to sell the Los Angeles Lakers?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Under the legislation, shops and online retailers are not permitted to sell the devices without a rechargeable battery, replaceable coil and capacity to be refilled.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
“I understand it’s a lot of money. But it’s not as if you can go buy another one tomorrow. … We hope we never, ever are going to sell it.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Prediction markets are websites that sell contracts that allow users to wager on event outcomes.
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026
Whether it’s going out to sell at farmers markets or picking up supplies, it’s always the van that’s used.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
IDEX, which sells pumps and valves to a range of industries, said it expected to rebate $14.7 million to customers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Emilie Vanpoperingh, co-founder of Oddbox, a subscription company that sells surplus produce that supermarkets reject, said it is "purely a cosmetic defect" and the plants taste exactly the same.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
The Japanese travel agency JTB, which sells tour packages to Japanese fans eager to see the Dodgers in person, launched a shuttle service to Dodger Stadium, with a bilingual guide.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026
Zhang hopes to export 40,000 bikes to Europe in 2027, while rival manufacturer Shineray sells 90 percent of its low-end models to South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026
“I’ve never seen a restaurant that sells both.”
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
For every 2,000 vouchers sold, six trips will fall into the gold tier and 12 in silver.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Specialist glasses had sold out at many retailers, including those recommended by UK health officials, with Royal Museums Greenwich citing an "unprecedented volume" of demand.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
It sold 2,221 vehicles from January to July, giving it less than 1% of the EV market in the U.S., according to Motor Intelligence data.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Kushner already holds a stake in the NBA’s Miami Heat that he will divest, according to the Athletic, and previously sold a stake in the league’s Memphis Grizzlies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Marveling that the old man had sold him such a wonder for only a quarter, Jeremy reached out to touch its glossy surface.
From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville
The automaker is selling off its stock of Polestar 3 SUVs and Polestar 4 coupes, including offering up to $25,000 in discounts on the EVs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Washington, D.C., is also among the top places where a significant share of home sellers are selling at a loss.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
He’s selling to a basketball fan whom we’ve seen courtside at Lakers games.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Most high street stores selling eclipse glasses sold out, leaving hundreds of shoppers queuing for them.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
“No, I can’t, shinah. Shiwos neezgai. My shoulder has arthritis. My weaving days are done. No more talking of selling and weaving, please,” Nali said.
From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
