sold

[ sohld ]

/ soʊld /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sold ON THESAURUS.COM

verb

simple past tense and past participle of sell¹.

Nearby words

solarium, solarize, solate, solation, solatium, sold, sold on, be, sold out, sold-out, soldan, solder

Related formsself-sold, adjectiveun·sold, adjectivewell-sold, adjective

Definition for sold (2 of 2)

sell

[ sel ]

/ sɛl /

verb (used with object), sold, sell·ing.

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.

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.

verb (used without object), sold, sell·ing.

to engage in selling something.

to be on sale.

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.

noun

an act or method of selling.

Stock Exchange. a security to be sold.

Informal. a cheat; hoax.

Verb Phrases

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.
to betray (an associate, one's country, a cause, etc.); turn traitor: He committed suicide rather than sell out to the enemy.

sell up, British. to sell out: She was forced to sell up her entire stock of crystal.

Origin of sell

before 900; Middle English sellen (v.), Old English sellan orig., to give, hence, give up (someone) to an enemy, betray, exchange for money; cognate with Old Norse selja, Low German sellen, Gothic saljan to give up, sell, orig., to cause to take; akin to Greek heleîn to take

SYNONYMS FOR sell

1 exchange, vend.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sell ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR sell

1 buy.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR sell ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formssell·a·ble, adjective

Synonym study

1. See trade.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sold

Not only has he not “done Santa in four years,” but he has sold his reindeer as well.
Kerry Bentivolio: The Congressman Who Believes in Santa Claus|Ben Jacobs|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the early 1900s, fashion forgers often sketched designs they saw in Paris shows and sold reproductions in France and overseas.
The Big Business of Fashion Counterfeits|Lizzie Crocker|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Gift cards are sold at kiosks in shopping malls or even websites that catering to this exchange market.
The Insane $11 Billion Scam at Retailers’ Return Desks|M.L. Nestel|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To compare, Lana Del Rey sold over 100,000 copies that same week.
The Biggest Bombs of 2014: ‘Sex Tape,’ Mariah Carey’s Vocals, ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and More|Kevin Fallon|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

On Thursday, Russian bloggers published pictures of empty shelves in stores that once sold electric goods.
After His Disastrous Annual Press Conference, Putin Needs A Hug|Anna Nemtsova|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The other thing she had to say was this: she had that day met the travelling jeweller to whom she and I had sold my ring.
Curious, if True|Elizabeth Gaskell
The first sold wonderfully, the event being recent, having made a great noise.
Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin|Benjamin Franklin
Bought by the Squadron canteen in large barrels, it was sold at 2½ pt.
Through Palestine with the 20th Machine Gun Squadron|Unknown
Mother-of-pearl used in the arts is sold by the ton, from $50 to $700 being average prices.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 362, December 9, 1882|Various
For such are imported, of course, and sold at auction as they arrive.
About Orchids|Frederick Boyle

British Dictionary definitions for sold (1 of 2)

sold

/ (səʊld) /

verb

the past tense and past participle of sell

adjective

sold on slang uncritically attached to or enthusiastic about

British Dictionary definitions for sold (2 of 2)

sell

/ (sɛl) /

verb sells, selling or sold

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 rewardto sell one's honour

to promote or facilitate the sale of (objects, property, etc)publicity sells many products

to induce or gain acceptance ofto sell an idea

(intr) to be in demand on the marketthese 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

noun

the act or an instance of sellingCompare hard sell, soft sell

informal

a trick, hoax, or deception
Irish a great disappointmentthe service in the hotel was a sell

See also sell in, sell off, sell out, sell up

Derived Formssellable, adjective

Word Origin for sell

Old English sellan to lend, deliver; related to Old Norse selja to sell, Gothic saljan to offer sacrifice, Old High German sellen to sell, Latin cōnsilium advice

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

Idioms and Phrases with sold

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

sold

verb

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Definition for sold (2 of 2)

sell

verb (used with object), sold, sell·ing.

verb (used without object), sold, sell·ing.

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of sell

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for sold

British Dictionary definitions for sold (1 of 2)

sold

verb

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for sold (2 of 2)

sell

verb sells, selling or sold

noun

Word Origin for sell

Idioms and Phrases with sold

sell