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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In the hopes of obtaining clarity for what type of bidding an auction might generate, Russin summoned Silver CEO Steven Rossum to the witness stand. David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2025 The auction may run through this coming Monday, May 19, but bidding has already eclipsed $1.3 million. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 16 May 2025
Verb
The 6-by-9 foot, 7,500-pound section of the wall — now on display at The Winter Garden at Brookfield Place —will be auctioned by Arlan Ettinger’s Guernsey’s on May 21. Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 18 May 2025 At one point, Leonardo DiCaprio was on stage auctioning a BBQ on his New York balcony. Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for auction

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Auction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/auction. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on auction

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