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
The Instagram account for the auction would be regularly updated throughout the day for a look at what was available. The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024 But when the venerated actor and racer’s own reference 6239, gifted to him by his wife, came up for auction in 2017, the watch world collectively went berserk. Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2024 The building is set for auction from March 25 through the 27th on rimarkerplace.com, according to a flyer. Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024 Several vintage, non-ring pieces are up for auction, too — Bulgari has multi-gem earrings, a brooch and jewelry sets for sale, some of which date back to the 1960s, currently going for between $1,000 and $12,000. Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024 After a second man was charged in connection with the theft of a pair of ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, the shoes worn by Judy Garland are going up for auction. Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2024 Highlights include a luncheon with tea service and dessert treats along with an auction, a raffle and Treasures of the Tea Surprise Boxes and CRC Resale Store Pop-up Shops. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024 Dallas Seavey of Talkeetna, Alaska, takes an auction winner in his sled 11 miles over the streets of Anchorage, Alaska, during the March 2, 2024, ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024 It’s scheduled to go up for auction on May 11 as part of an auction that will be held in Monaco. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024
Verb
Eight watches from the collection of Michael Schumacher highlighting milestones in the career of the seven-time Formula One champion will be auctioned by Christie’s in Geneva and may fetch millions. Andy Hoffman, Fortune Europe, 20 Mar. 2024 In 2019, Pamela Bryant auctioned a replica 2000 championship ring gifted by her son that sold for $206,000. Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 From the wide windows on the second floor of the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina, visitors can look across the Cooper River toward Africa, where people from the continent were kidnapped to be auctioned off. Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024 When Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s estate was auctioned off, in 1996, Sotheby’s sold more than a hundred thousand copies of the catalogue. Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 Destroying guns: Kentucky State Police currently auctions off guns confiscated by local law enforcement. Rebecca Grapevine, The Courier-Journal, 15 Mar. 2024 Photo : Mecum Auctions This 1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS is being auctioned through Mecum without reserve. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024 The funky, beige Ziggurat in Laguna Niguel is being auctioned this summer, the second attempt to sell the campus after a first effort failed last April. Samantha Gowen, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2024 That value is likely to become the starting price if the land is auctioned for sale. Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024

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 28 Mar. 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
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