sell out

British  

verb

1. Also (chiefly Brit): sell up.  to dispose of (supplies of something) completely by selling

2. informal (tr) to betray, esp through a secret agreement

3. informal (intr) to abandon one's principles, standards, etc

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noun

1. informal a performance for which all tickets are sold

2. a commercial success

3. informal a betrayal

4. informal a person who betrays their principles, standards, friends, etc

sell out Idioms  

1. Dispose of entirely by selling. For example, The rancher finally sold out to the oil company , or The tickets to the concert were sold out a month ago . [Late 1700s]

2. Betray one's cause or colleagues, as in He sold out to the other side . [ Slang ; late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

Everyone underestimates Ashley’s intelligence and Austin’s willingness to sell out justice to ensure they’ll get ahead.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026

Central to Gold.com’s leadership is its status as an authorized distributor for high-profile sovereign mint products, such as American Silver Eagles and Canadian Gold Maple Leafs—government-backed coins that routinely sell out during limited production runs.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

"That's why his streaming stats are so high and why, if he does play at Wireless, it will sell out straight away."

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

Analysts say individual investors are simply more prone to sell out when an asset class underperforms expectations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

“He would think it was like quitting. He’d feel it was a cowardice. No, he will never sell out, and if he did I don’t think he would live a week.”

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck