auction

1 of 2

noun

auc·​tion ˈȯk-shən 

1

: a sale of property to the highest bidder

2

: the act or process of bidding in some card games

auction

2 of 2

verb

auctioned; auctioning ˈȯk-sh(ə-)niŋ 

transitive verb

: to sell at auction

auctioned off his library

Examples of auction in a Sentence

Noun

She bought the desk at an auction.

He made several bids at the auction.

Verb

They auctioned a similar desk last year.

The house was auctioned last week.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Jane Birkin’s original Hermès Birkin auction Birkin’s original Hermès Birkin bag was sold for 8.6 million euros, about $10.1 million, at Sotheby’s in Paris on July 10, becoming the most valuable handbag ever sold at auction. —Hannah Malach, Footwear News, 11 July 2025

Pop the hood so that the auction staff can open it. —Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2025

Verb

All 11 rides from the park were auctioned the next day on Nov. 3. —Douglas C. Towne, AZCentral.com, 11 July 2025

The chunk of Martian rock being auctioned off by Sotheby's was likely dislodged from the planet by an asteroid strike. —July 10, CBS News, 10 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin auction-, auctio, from augēre to increase — more at eke

First Known Use

Noun

1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1723, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing auction

• auction bridge
• auction house
• silent auction
• up for auction

Rhymes for auction

• concoction
• decoction

Kids Definition

auction

1 of 2 noun

auc·​tion ˈȯk-shən 

: a sale at which things are sold to those who offer to pay the most

auction

2 of 2 verb

auctioned; auctioning -sh(ə-)niŋ 

: to sell at auction

Etymology

Noun

from Latin auction-, auctio, from augēre "to increase" — related to augment

Legal Definition

auction

noun

auc·​tion

: a public sale of property to the highest bidder see also reserve