auction

1 of 2

noun

auc·​tion ˈȯk-shən How to pronounce auction (audio)
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 How to pronounce auction (audio)

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
Market Analysis: 1982-1992 Pontiac Firebird Looking at recent third-generation Pontiac Firebird auctions on Bring a Trailer shows the bulk of them selling for between $6,000 and $20,000. Karl Brauer, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024 As opposed to vintage shops or a crowded antique auction, estate sales give you the unique opportunity to picture what a piece looks like in a home setting. Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2024
Verb
Two years ago, Aaron Judge’s 62nd homer ball was auctioned by Goldin for $1.25 million. Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 19 Sep. 2024 The walk-on role, courtesy of Star, was reportedly auctioned for approximately $277,000 (€250,000). Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for auction 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'auction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of auction was in 1595

Dictionary Entries Near auction

Cite this Entry

“Auction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/auction. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

auction

1 of 2 noun
auc·​tion ˈȯk-shən How to pronounce auction (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce auction (audio)
: 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!