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.

Idioms for sell

sell short. short(def 49).

sell (someone) a bill of goods. bill of goods(def 3).

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 SYNONYMS FOR sell ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR sell

1 buy.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR sell ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for sell

1. See trade.

OTHER WORDS FROM sell

sell·a·ble, adjective

Words nearby sell

selkie, selkirk, selkirk mountains, selkirk rex, selkirkshire, sell, sell a bill of goods, sell down the river, sell in, sell like hot cakes, sell off

British Dictionary definitions for sell out (1 of 2)

sell out

verb (adverb)

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

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

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

noun sellout

informal a performance for which all tickets are sold

a commercial success

informal a betrayal

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

British Dictionary definitions for sell out (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 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

noun

the act or an instance of selling Compare 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 forms of sell

sellable, 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

Idioms and Phrases with sell out (1 of 2)

sell out

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]

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

Idioms and Phrases with sell out (2 of 2)

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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

sell

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

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

noun

Verb Phrases

Idioms for sell

Origin of sell

SYNONYMS FOR sell

ANTONYMS FOR sell

synonym study for sell

OTHER WORDS FROM sell

Words nearby sell

British Dictionary definitions for sell out (1 of 2)

verb (adverb)

noun sellout

British Dictionary definitions for sell out (2 of 2)

verb sells, selling or sold

noun

Derived forms of sell

Word Origin for sell

Idioms and Phrases with sell out (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with sell out (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

sell

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

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

noun

Verb Phrases

Idioms for sell

Origin of sell

SYNONYMS FOR sell

ANTONYMS FOR sell

synonym study for sell

OTHER WORDS FROM sell

Words nearby sell

Words related to sell out

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for sell out (1 of 2)

verb (adverb)

noun sellout

British Dictionary definitions for sell out (2 of 2)

verb sells, selling or sold

noun

Derived forms of sell

Word Origin for sell

Idioms and Phrases with sell out (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with sell out (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for sell out (1 of 2)