: an item of merchandise (such as an automobile or refrigerator) taken as payment or part payment for a purchase
traded in; trading in; trades in
1
: to turn in as payment or part payment for a purchase or bill
trade the old car in on a new one
2
Examples of trade-in in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kristin Broughton, WSJ, 24 Nov. 2023
Regardless of your payment method, Apple will send a trade-in kit.
—Nick Guy, wsj.com, 13 Sep. 2023
Check the offer details or additional terms on each carrier’s iPhone product page for the full list of eligible trade-in devices.
—WIRED, 9 Nov. 2023
Generally, experts said that the trade-in values of iPhones are higher than those of similar high-end Android phones, but not always.
—Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023
Both promotions require one of AT&T’s unlimited data plans and an eligible trade-in.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas News, 12 Sep. 2023
The brand offers a trade-in and buy used program to keep apparel out of landfills, and the Sweetwater Fleece Jacket is carbon neutral and 100-percent recycled.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2023
Find out how much your current vehicle will be worth be as a trade-in.
—Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 10 Oct. 2023
Lines were waited in, trade-ins were made, all in the hopes that the newest model would be the game changer at a time when tech giants are dropping new smartphones like hot cakes.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 29 Sep. 2023
Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2023
This year, amid a severe shortage of U.S. dollars, Bolivia began trading in China’s currency, the yuan.
—Cate Cadell, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
Russian businessmen are strong-arming local business owners into selling stores and farms, and Central Asian migrants have shown up to trade in markets and work as laborers.
—Matthew Mpoke Bigg Tyler Hicks, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Chris Pratt has traded in his plumber uniform for something with a little more fur in the first trailer for Columbia Pictures and Alcon Entertainment’s The Garfield Movie.
—Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Nov. 2023
Morning trade in Hong Kong was suspended due to a typhoon, while markets in Japan and South Korea were closed for holidays.
—David Goldman, CNN, 8 Oct. 2023
Shares have been trading in the $80 range, down from $197 two years ago.
—Brooks Barnes, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2023
Winter coat season is nearly upon us, and this year, celebrities are trading in their basics for punchier options.
—Taylor Jean Stephan, Peoplemag, 4 Nov. 2023
Most people in the United States sell or trade in their older phone when purchasing a new one.
—Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023
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Noun
About 10% of Group 1’s inventory comes from auctions, while 70% comes from trade-ins, according to the company.
—Kristin Broughton, WSJ, 24 Nov. 2023
Regardless of your payment method, Apple will send a trade-in kit.
—Nick Guy, wsj.com, 13 Sep. 2023
Check the offer details or additional terms on each carrier’s iPhone product page for the full list of eligible trade-in devices.
—WIRED, 9 Nov. 2023
Generally, experts said that the trade-in values of iPhones are higher than those of similar high-end Android phones, but not always.
—Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023
Both promotions require one of AT&T’s unlimited data plans and an eligible trade-in.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas News, 12 Sep. 2023
The brand offers a trade-in and buy used program to keep apparel out of landfills, and the Sweetwater Fleece Jacket is carbon neutral and 100-percent recycled.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2023
Find out how much your current vehicle will be worth be as a trade-in.
—Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 10 Oct. 2023
Lines were waited in, trade-ins were made, all in the hopes that the newest model would be the game changer at a time when tech giants are dropping new smartphones like hot cakes.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 29 Sep. 2023
Verb
Homes within Jumby Bay are typically traded in off-market deals to long-time visitors or owners of other homes.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2023
This year, amid a severe shortage of U.S. dollars, Bolivia began trading in China’s currency, the yuan.
—Cate Cadell, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
Russian businessmen are strong-arming local business owners into selling stores and farms, and Central Asian migrants have shown up to trade in markets and work as laborers.
—Matthew Mpoke Bigg Tyler Hicks, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Chris Pratt has traded in his plumber uniform for something with a little more fur in the first trailer for Columbia Pictures and Alcon Entertainment’s The Garfield Movie.
—Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Nov. 2023
Morning trade in Hong Kong was suspended due to a typhoon, while markets in Japan and South Korea were closed for holidays.
—David Goldman, CNN, 8 Oct. 2023
Shares have been trading in the $80 range, down from $197 two years ago.
—Brooks Barnes, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2023
Winter coat season is nearly upon us, and this year, celebrities are trading in their basics for punchier options.
—Taylor Jean Stephan, Peoplemag, 4 Nov. 2023
Most people in the United States sell or trade in their older phone when purchasing a new one.
—Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trade-in.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near trade-in
Cite this Entry
“Trade-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade-in. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
trade-in
1 of 2 nounˈtrād-ˌin
: something given in trade usually as part payment for a purchase
trade in
2 of 2 verb(ˈ)trād-ˈin
: to turn in as a payment or part payment for a purchase
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