: 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
Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
How Target's car seat trade-in event works To get a 20% Target Circle bonus, shoppers simply need to bring an old car seat to any participating Target store.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
After the league’s commercial backers have called dibs, the postseason avails begin trading in the upfront; whatever’s left is sold in scatter, and nearly always at a premium over the prices set in the spring bazaar.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trade-in
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Noun
About a third of buyers owe more than their trade-in is worth and roll the remaining amount into the loan on their new car, according to JD Power.
—Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
How Target's car seat trade-in event works To get a 20% Target Circle bonus, shoppers simply need to bring an old car seat to any participating Target store.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
He was traded in 2025 to the Chargers and has since re-signed with the Los Angeles franchise on a one-year deal.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
After the league’s commercial backers have called dibs, the postseason avails begin trading in the upfront; whatever’s left is sold in scatter, and nearly always at a premium over the prices set in the spring bazaar.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trade-in
Cite this Entry
“Trade-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade-in. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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