selling

[ sel-ing ]

/ ˈsɛl ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR selling ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to a sale or sales: the selling price of oranges.

engaged in selling: two selling offices in New York.

readily salable; in strong demand (often used in combination): This is our fastest-selling model.

Origin of selling

First recorded in 1765–75; sell¹ + -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM selling

non·sell·ing, adjective

Words nearby selling

seller's option, sellers, sellers screw thread, sellers' market, sellick's maneuver, selling, selling climax, selling floor, selling point, selling race, selling short

Definition for selling (2 of 2)

sell ¹

[ 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 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

Example sentences from the Web for selling

There is just no way of selling this picture with an innocent defense like, “she just asked for a snap.”

Buckingham Palace Disputes Sex Allegations Against Prince ‘Randy Andy’ |Tom Sykes |January 4, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
He was not selling “loosies” that day, no cigarettes were found on his person, and thus there was no probable cause in play.

What Would Happen if I Got in White Cop’s Face? |Goldie Taylor |December 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Even the legendary 1980s televisions show Dallas is back on the air, selling its twenty-first century brand of Texas bravado.

Will Texas Stay Texan? |David Fontana |December 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
We see a system that will indict a 20-year-old for selling crack but not a police officer for choking the life out of a citizen.

Bobby Shmurda and Rap’s Ultimate Hoop Dream |Rawiya Kameir |December 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

The United Nations was prompted to impose a ban on selling mainframe computers or laptops to North Korea.

Inside the ‘Surprisingly Great’ North Korean Hacker Hotel |Michael Daly |December 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He was jealous, too, of the toyshop keepers who were selling their handsome wares.

Mitz and Fritz of Germany |Madeline Brandeis
The pool will spring upon the market, right and left, selling thousands upon thousands of shares.

The President |Alfred Henry Lewis
"Mr. Street is selling windmills," explained Miss Rutherford.

The Sheriff's Son |William MacLeod Raine
And today every salesman has one pasted in his selling portfolio.

The Knack of Managing |Lewis K. Urquhart and Herbert Watson
The next day I happened to pass the place again and they were selling the same watch.

The Iron Puddler |James J. Davis

British Dictionary definitions for selling

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 selling

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

selling

adjective

Origin of selling

OTHER WORDS FROM selling

Words nearby selling

Definition for selling (2 of 2)

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

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

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of sell

SYNONYMS FOR sell

ANTONYMS FOR sell

synonym study for sell

OTHER WORDS FROM sell

Example sentences from the Web for selling

British Dictionary definitions for selling

verb sells, selling or sold

noun

Derived forms of sell

Word Origin for sell

Idioms and Phrases with selling

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

selling

adjective

Origin of selling

OTHER WORDS FROM selling

Words nearby selling

Definition for selling (2 of 2)

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

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

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of sell

SYNONYMS FOR sell

ANTONYMS FOR sell

synonym study for sell

OTHER WORDS FROM sell

Words related to selling

Example sentences from the Web for selling

British Dictionary definitions for selling

verb sells, selling or sold

noun

Derived forms of sell

Word Origin for sell

Idioms and Phrases with selling