auction

American  

[awk-shuhn] / ˈɔk ʃən /

noun

1. Also called public sale.  a publicly held sale at which property or goods are sold to the highest bidder.

2. Cards.

   1. auction bridge.

   2. (in bridge or certain other games) the competitive bidding to fix a contract that a player or players undertake to fulfill.

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verb (used with object)

1. to sell by auction (often followed byoff ).

   He auctioned off his furniture.

auction British  

/ ˈɔːkʃən /

noun

1. a public sale of goods or property, esp one in which prospective purchasers bid against each other until the highest price is reached Compare Dutch auction

2. the competitive calls made in bridge and other games before play begins, undertaking to win a given number of tricks if a certain suit is trumps

3. See auction bridge

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verb

1. to sell by auction

Other Word Forms

• auctionable
  adjective
• auctionary
  adjective
• proauction
  adjective
• unauctioned
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of auction

1585–95; < Latin auctiōn- (stem of auctiō ) an increase, especially in the bidding at a sale, equivalent to auct ( us ) increased, past participle of augēre ( aug- increase + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

In an auction, items are sold without price tags — whoever bids the highest gets to buy it, whether it’s a painting, a car, or a set of old dishes. You can hold an auction, or auction something. You might have seen auction scenes in classy old movies where the characters bid on paintings by politely raising their hands as the auctioneer calls out a price. Auctions aren’t always high-fallutin’, though — many cities auction off cars they’ve confiscated from criminals.

Example Sentences

Matthew Perry’s collection of “Friends” memorabilia, fine art and other prized possessions is going up for auction next month, nearly three years after the actor died at age 54.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

These are considered shock absorbers, and an increase in their auction sizes doesn’t change the equation on long-term bonds’ yields.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

However, one year later, the Financial Title Company told Jackson that unless he handed over $24,525,906.61, the home and all of his things inside would go to auction.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

Founded in 1995 as an online auction house for hobbyists by the billionaire computer scientist Pierre Omidyar, eBay has traveled a bumpy road over the past three decades, remaking itself several times in the process.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

The security bots continue their randomized rotations; some of the assets being used to guard this auction now drift off to patrol another one that has just started.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

Related Words

• sell-off