auctioneer
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
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auctioneers,
present (3rd person singular)
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auctioneered,
past participle, past
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auctioneering
present participle
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
auctioneersimple
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auctioneerssimple
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have auctioneeredperfect
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has auctioneeredperfect
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am auctioneeringprogressive
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are auctioneeringprogressive
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is auctioneeringprogressive
-
have been auctioneeringperfect progressive
-
has been auctioneeringperfect progressive
Past
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auctioneeredsimple
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had auctioneeredperfect
-
was auctioneeringprogressive
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were auctioneeringprogressive
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had been auctioneeringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of auctioneer
Explanation
An auctioneer is a person who manages an auction, or a public sale at which people can bid on items. It's exciting to win the bidding at an auction and hear the auctioneer shout, "Sold!" It's the job of an auctioneer to organize the goods for sale at an auction, as well as to oversee the bidding, often encouraging bidders to compete with each other to drive the price up. Some auctioneers call out items and prices in a distinctive, rapid, sing-song voice. Auctioneer comes from auction, which has a Latin root: auctionem, "increasing sale or public sale," from augere, "to increase."
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:
The Epiphone guitar was made in 1997 and the auctioneer said it is believed to be one of five identical guitars gifted to Noel Gallagher by the manufacturer.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
“Try a bigger bite,” said auctioneer Phyllis Kao, trying to coax the next bid after $37 million.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Its buyer was the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and Branson, Missouri, and the seat is to go on exhibition, the auctioneer said.
From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2026
“What you’re looking for as an auctioneer is someone who’s truly fearless onstage,” says auctioneer Lydia Fenet.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026
The auctioneer looked at the large man, who was still wiping his brow.
From "Copper Sun" by Sharon M. Draper
The auctioneers said the ruined property has intact walls to eaves level, as well as two ruined cottages, a smithy and old shop.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
More than 100 silver items, dating from the early 1700s to the early 1900s, had been expected to fetch up to £23,000 when they were offered for sale at Elmwood's auctioneers in London.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
It marked Manning as one of Scotland's first female auctioneers, and she has since enjoyed a prolific TV career on programmes such as Bargain Hunt and Flog It!.
From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026
It is the only life jacket from one of the survivors ever to be put up for sale, with auctioneers describing the rare item as a "once in a lifetime opportunity for collectors".
From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2026
If there was a mother and her children on the block, she would buy the whole lot, cutting a deal with the auctioneers before the family ever went up for bidding.
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
During the heady days of the dot-com bubble, McCormick was CEO of the internet auctioneering house FreeMarkets - amassing wealth as he steered the Pittsburgh-based company to a nearly $500 million acquisition deal in 2004.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 14, 2023
During the heady days of the dot-com bubble, McCormick was CEO of the internet auctioneering house FreeMarkets — amassing wealth as he steered the Pittsburgh-based company to a nearly $500 million acquisition deal in 2004.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 13, 2023
For one thing, she later said, she felt a spiritual void, and auctioneering “no longer felt correct.”
From New York Times ● Jun. 21, 2016
Though he eschews the "homina-homina-homina" patter known in auctioneering as "the chant," the puckish Girardo entertains bids in all four languages from the auction floor, over the telephone and via the Internet.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2015
“This isn’t exactly 80 auctioneering, but it pays just as well, so we have no cause to grumble.”
From Young Auctioneers The Polishing of a Rolling Stone by Edward Stratemeyer
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