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

The tight loop between capital, asset issuing, and auction-as-legitimizing-engine echoed Polymarket’s recursive news-and-market-making cycle. — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Although the tapes won’t be part of the planned auction, Littleton is going forward with selling previously unpublished photos of the band, studio material, set lists, a tour parka, instruments the band owned, and other items. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026

Verb

Records show the Bel-Air estate was used as collateral to pay off a loan from the CIM Group, and Winnick’s family relisted the home for $170 million in April before it was auctioned off to the highest bidder three months later. — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

In 2004, Charles auctioned off 108 cases of fine wine, including Port, claret, and Cognac, to make room in the collection for younger bottles, according to Wine Spectator. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin auction-, auctio, from augēre to increase — more at eke entry 1

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