sell
1to 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.
to deal in; keep or offer for sale: He sells insurance. This store sells my favorite brand.
to make a sale or offer for sale to: He'll sell me the car for $1000.
to persuade or induce (someone) to buy something: The salesman sold me on a more expensive model than I wanted.
to persuade or induce someone to buy (something): The clerk really sold the shoes to me by flattery.
to make sales of: The hot record sold a million copies this month.
to cause to be accepted, especially generally or widely: to sell an idea to the public.
to cause or persuade to accept; convince: to sell the voters on a candidate.
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.
to force or exact a price for: The defenders of the fort sold their lives dearly.
Informal. to cheat, betray, or hoax.
to engage in selling something: Investment advisors agree that it’s time to sell.
to be sold; to draw sales: His album is selling well.The game sold poorly in Japan.
to offer something for sale: I like this house—will they sell?
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.
to have a specific price; be offered for sale at the price indicated (followed by at or for): Eggs used to sell at sixty cents a dozen. This shirt sells for thirty dollars.
to be in demand by buyers: On a rainy day, umbrellas really sell.
to win acceptance, approval, or adoption: Here's an idea that'll sell.
an act or method of selling: Your home could be a profitable sell.
Stock Exchange. a security to be sold.
Informal. a cheat; hoax.
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.
sell out,
to dispose of entirely by selling: They sold out of Johnny's brownies before the bake sale was half over.
to betray (an associate, one's country, one’s principles, a cause, etc.): He would never sell out to the enemy.
sell up, British. to sell out: She was forced to sell up her entire stock of crystal.
Idioms about sell
sell someone a bill of goods, Informal. bill of goods (def. 3).
sell short. short (def. 50).
Origin of sell
1synonym study For sell
Other words for sell
Opposites for sell
Other words from sell
- sell·a·ble, adjective
Other definitions for sell (2 of 2)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use sell in a sentence
In fact, Mexico buys and sells more US goods than any other country on the planet except for Canada.
Why Mexicans Are Enraged by Obama’s Big Tuesday Meeting | Ruben Navarrette Jr. | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTI tell him about the Pleasure Chest--a Hollywood shop that sells sexual paraphernalia.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days | David Freeman | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTCasa Bruja's Fula Farmacia Blond Ale sells for $1.95 at Bodega Mi Amiga.
House of the Witch: The Renegade Craft Brewers of Panama | Jeff Campagna | November 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBodega Mi Amiga sells every kind of liquor you can imagine, or that is legally allowed to be imported into Panama.
House of the Witch: The Renegade Craft Brewers of Panama | Jeff Campagna | November 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTMcDonough, in contrast, sells posters of herself in revealing clothing leaning over a car in a sultry manner.
The Moms of Monster Jam Drive Trucks, Buck Macho Culture | Eliza Krigman | November 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
But suppose that the consumer, for the things which he himself makes and sells, or for the work which he performs, receives more?
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen LeacockI don't suppose he lies;—he sells it to the editor, who knows how many squares off "Sumatra" is.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | VariousThe editor, who sells it to the public——By the way, the papers have been very civil——haven't they?
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | VariousSuppose A sells a piece of land by warranty deed to B, who makes the unwelcome discovery that a mortgage is existing thereon.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney BollesThe seller may safely give a quit-claim deed for he thereby sells only whatever interest he may have.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney Bolles
British Dictionary definitions for sell
/ (sɛl) /
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
to deal in (objects, property, etc): he sells used cars for a living
(tr) to give up or surrender for a price or reward: to sell one's honour
to promote or facilitate the sale of (objects, property, etc): publicity sells many products
to induce or gain acceptance of: to sell an idea
(intr) to be in demand on the market: these dresses sell well in the spring
(tr) informal to deceive or cheat
(tr foll by on) to persuade to accept or approve (of): to sell a buyer on a purchase
sell down the river informal to betray
sell oneself
to convince someone else of one's potential or worth
to give up one's moral or spiritual standards, etc
sell short
informal to disparage or belittle
finance to sell securities or goods without owning them in anticipation of buying them before delivery at a lower price
Origin of sell
1Derived forms of sell
- sellable, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with sell
In addition to the idioms beginning with sell
- sell a bill of goods
- sell down the river
- sell like hot cakes
- sell off
- sell oneself
- sell out
- sell short
- sell someone on
also see:
- hard sell
- like hot cakes, sell
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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