auction
noun
\
Definition of auction
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : a sale of property to the highest bidder
2 : the act or process of bidding in some card games
auction
verb
\
Definition of auction (Entry 2 of 2)
: 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
Derek Boyd is getting ready for his first date auction. — Krislyn Placide, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Recipient of Make-A-Wish holiday now helps grant wishes," 12 July 2018 Instead of swapping miles for a flight, customers at United Airlines could use them to buy or bid on experiences, like a recent auction promising a trip to London with a chance to be an extra in an upcoming Spider-Man film. — Lauren Zumbach, chicagotribune.com, "The new way to use your airline miles: Bears tickets, fancy meals and a walk-on role in a movie," 10 July 2018 The Harford County government put tax liens on 620 properties up for sale at its annual delinquent payment auction Monday, recouping $828,376.97 on 597 accounts, according to county officials. — David Anderson, The Aegis, "Harford County recoups more than $828,000 in annual tax lien sale," 19 June 2018 United is holding an auction for its frequent fliers to bid miles for a trip to Savannah to visit the city and get a tour of the Byrd’s bakery. — Kelly Yamanouchi, ajc, "Byrd’s cookies from Savannah taking flight on Delta rival," 25 June 2018 In November, a single gold leaf taken from the laurel crown Napoleon wore at his coronation fetched over $725,000 at an auction in Paris. — Aurelien Breeden, New York Times, "Napoleon’s Hat, Dropped at Waterloo, Is Picked Up at Auction for $400,000," 18 June 2018 In April, Netflix won an auction to pick up Failsafe, a package adapting a Vault Comics title with Cole attached to write and produce and his Panther star Michael B. Jordan attached to topline. — Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Black Panther' Writer to Make Directing Debut With Crime Drama 'All Day and a Night' (Exclusive)," 18 June 2018 Once hauled to the lot, its owner has up to 45 days after being notified to appeal an auction of their vehicle. — Phillip M. Bailey, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville is littered with abandoned cars, and residents aren't happy," 7 June 2018 The notice says the lien on the house will be sold June 6 to the highest bidder at an auction to be held at 10 a.m. in the courtyard of the East County Regional Center in El Cajon. — J. Harry Jones, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Tony Gwynn's home in Poway foreclosed upon," 2 June 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The chain has held going-out-of business sales at its stores and plans to auction off its name but struggled to find a buyer for the 550-pound statue, mainly because of the expense of removing and transporting it. — BostonGlobe.com, "Saddleback Mountain buyer accused of bilking investor," 21 June 2018 The chain has held going-out-of business sales at its stores and plans to auction off its name but struggled to find a buyer for the 550-pound fiberglass statue, mainly because of the expense associated with removing and transporting it. — Fortune, "Toys 'R' Us Mascot, Orphaned by Bankruptcy, Finds Home," 16 June 2018 Buy Photo The investors fighting chef Jose Garces’ plan to auction off his restaurant business have filed an appeal in federal court to try to stop the sale and overturn a ruling Garces won last month in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. — Michael Klein, Philly.com, "Investors file appeal to block Garces auction," 8 June 2018 Tax liens on the house had been auctioned to investors, and a foreclosure case proceeded through Baltimore Circuit Court. — Tim Prudente, baltimoresun.com, "Collapse: The rise and deadly fall of a Baltimore rowhouse," 12 July 2018 And in January, U.S. marshals auctioned off $52 million worth of bitcoin, seized from drug dealers. — Chris Morris, Fortune, "Authorities Seize $5.2 Million in Cryptocurrency Following Europe's Largest LSD Bust," 28 June 2018 The last Dodge Viper and Dodge Challenger SRT Demon that will ever be built were auctioned for charity as a pair over the weekend for $1 million at a Barrett-Jackson event in Connecticut, with all of the proceeds going to the United Way. — Gary Gastelu, Fox News, "Final Dodge Viper and Demon sold for $1 million," 25 June 2018 State land is auctioned off primarily to benefit public education. — Arizona Republic, azcentral, "Nationwide Insurance project could bring development to 1,000 acres of Scottsdale desert," 21 June 2018 Last month, eight shuttle buses were auctioned for $48,000. — Patrick Danner, San Antonio Express-News, "Seized double-decker buses headed to auction," 21 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'auction.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for auction
auction
noun
English Language Learners Definition of auction
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a public sale at which things are sold to the people who offer to pay the most
auction
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of auction (Entry 2 of 2)
: to sell (something) at an auction
See the full definition for auction in the English Language Learners Dictionary
auction
noun
\
Kids Definition of auction
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a public sale at which things are sold to those who offer to pay the most
auction
verbKids Definition of auction (Entry 2 of 2)
: to sell at an auction The art was auctioned today.
auction
nounLegal Definition of auction
: a public sale of property to the highest bidder — see also reserve
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on auction
What made you want to look up auction? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Great Scrabble Words—A Quiz
-
- Which of the following Q-without-U words means the number five in cards or dice?
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Great Scrabble Words—A Quiz
Words to improve your Scrabble game
Take the quiz -
Which Came First? Quiz
Do you know which word is older?
Take the quiz -
Name That Thing
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
Take the quiz -
Citation
Do you know the person or title these quotes describe?
Play the game
Share auction
Resources for auction