sell

⁴sell

Definition of SELL

chiefly Scottish variant of self

¹sell

verb \ˈsel\

sold \ˈsōld\ sell·ing

Definition of SELL

transitive verb

1

: to deliver or give up in violation of duty, trust, or loyalty and especially for personal gain : betray —often used with out <sell out their country>

2

a (1) : to give up (property) to another for something of value (as money) (2) : to offer for sale

b : to give up in return for something else especially foolishly or dishonorably <sold his birthright for a mess of pottage>

c : to exact a price for <sold their lives dearly>

3

a : to deliver into slavery for money

b : to give into the power of another <sold his soul to the devil>

c : to deliver the personal services of for money

4

: to dispose of or manage for profit instead of in accordance with conscience, justice, or duty <sold their votes>

5

a : to develop a belief in the truth, value, or desirability of : gain acceptance for <trying to sell a program to the Congress>

b : to persuade or influence to a course of action or to the acceptance of something <sell children on reading>

6

: to impose on : cheat

7

a : to cause or promote the sale of <using television advertising to sell cereal>

b : to make or attempt to make sales to

c : to influence or induce to make a purchase

8

: to achieve a sale of <sold a million copies>

intransitive verb

1

: to dispose of something by sale <thinks now is a good time to sell>

2

: to achieve a sale; also : to achieve satisfactory sales <hoped that the new line would sell>

3

: to have a specified price

— sell·able \ˈse-lə-bəl\ adjective

— sell down the river

: to betray the faith of

— sell short

1

: to make a short sale

2

: to fail to value properly : underestimate

Examples of SELL

1. He buys and remodels houses and then sells them at a profit.
2. Stock prices are increasing, so now is a good time to sell.
3. Only a few stores sell that type of equipment.

Origin of SELL

Middle English, from Old English sellan; akin to Old High German sellen to sell, Greek helein to take

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SELL

Synonyms

deal (in), merchandise (also merchandize), put up, retail, market, vend

Antonyms

buy, purchase

Related Words

presell, wholesale; remarket, resell; hawk, peddle; barter, distribute, exchange, export, handle, trade, traffic (in); advertise, ballyhoo, boost, plug, promote, tout; bargain, chaffer, dicker, haggle, horse-trade, palter; auction; provide, supply; carry, keep, stock

Rhymes with SELL

bel, bell, belle, cel, cell, dell, dwell, el, ell, fell, gel, Hel, hell, jell, knell, l, mell, quell, shell, smell, snell, spell, swell, tell, well, yell

²sell

noun

Definition of SELL

1

: a deliberate deception : hoax

2

: the act or an instance of selling

3

: something to be sold or caused to be accepted <the new mystery novel was an easy sell>; also : someone to whom something is sold <the new purchasing agent was a tough sell>

First Known Use of SELL

1838

³sell

noun \ˈsel\

Definition of SELL

archaic

: saddle

Variants of SELL

sell or selle \ˈsel\

Origin of SELL

Middle English selle, from Anglo-French sele, from Latin sella — more at settle

First Known Use: 15th century