as in sale
a public event at which things are sold to the people who offer to pay the most
She bought the desk at an auction. He made several bids at the auction.
Related Words
Relevance
as in to merchandise
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of auction
Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
The painting was purchased at auction from Christie’s by International Art Center, a holding company controlled by Nahmad, in 1996 and placed in storage in Switzerland.
—News Desk, Artforum, 6 Apr. 2026
Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2026
Although the broadside headed to auction this year doesn’t include a specific printer’s mark, Goldin appraisers believe additional contextual details trace it back to a publisher in Exeter, New Hampshire.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for auction
Noun
Lasry cut his art-world teeth in the auction role, holding senior positions at various Christie’s offices before becoming the house’s COO in London.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
The painting was purchased at auction from Christie’s by International Art Center, a holding company controlled by Nahmad, in 1996 and placed in storage in Switzerland.
—News Desk, Artforum, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
That leaves the remaining four without a home, though the city may auction them off to the public, Flynn said.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2026
Although the broadside headed to auction this year doesn’t include a specific printer’s mark, Goldin appraisers believe additional contextual details trace it back to a publisher in Exeter, New Hampshire.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for auction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for auction
Noun
-
Since September — the month when the Office of Cannabis Management issued the first licenses for retailers — sales have exceeded $50 million in total for recreational cannabis, according to state data.—
Caroline Cummings,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The report counts those smaller store sales separately from the Walmart supercenters.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
It’s all curated by owner Sylvie Chateigner, who has methodically merchandised the store by color.—
Clara Giampellegrini,
Vogue,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The store’s inventory will come from local closets and be merchandised around upcoming events including Ultra (March 27-29), the Miami Open (through March 29), Formula 1 (May 1-3) and Swim Week (May 25-June 1).—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In addition to equity investment, the transaction is backed by $54 billion of debt commitments from Bank of America, Citigroup and Apollo.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Two board members who brought up concerns about the transactions were replaced when their terms were up.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Indeed, barely any words are exchanged.—
Kristen Roupenian,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The teams exchanged runs in the 10th, Seattle scoring on Randy Arozarena's RBI single and the Angels on Logan O'Hoppe's sacrifice fly.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Buyers could also resell their World Cup tickets on the secondary market, where tickets often sell go more than $1,000 a piece.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
That’s because there’s no way to resell prescription medications.—
Rebecca Strong,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Another surgery swapped out her breast implants to erase her shoulder pain in 2022, Dishell said, but doctors warned her then that her other pain was unlikely to improve.—
Brett Kelman,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
While strawberry shortcakes are usually made with biscuits, this recipe swaps them for tender little cakes baked in muffin tins.—
Victoria Spencer,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For those who drive, parking passes must be purchased in advance (see below).—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Some commenters begged Fleischmann not to give up, pledging to come in and purchase items if the store reopens.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The union usually bargains in the same year as performers’ union SAG-AFTRA and directors’ union the Directors Guild of America.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The deal appears to be a win for the WGA, which had bargained for additional contributions to its health fund and pension plan.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Auction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/auction. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
