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
Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
And an up-and-coming country singer named Margo Price is also from Aledo, as is an artist named Gertrude Abercrombie, who had her work just sell at auction for over a million dollars.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
Separately, Barrett-Jackson will also auction a 1968 Ford Mustang Licensed Eleanor 25th Anniversary Limited Edition and a 1969 Ford Bronco at the event.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for auction
Noun
Failing that, a foreclosure and public auction could occur March 17.
—Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
And an up-and-coming country singer named Margo Price is also from Aledo, as is an artist named Gertrude Abercrombie, who had her work just sell at auction for over a million dollars.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Separately, Barrett-Jackson will also auction a 1968 Ford Mustang Licensed Eleanor 25th Anniversary Limited Edition and a 1969 Ford Bronco at the event.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
Separately, Barrett-Jackson will also auction a 1968 Ford Mustang Licensed Eleanor 25th Anniversary Limited Edition and a 1969 Ford Bronco at the event.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for auction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for auction
Noun
-
While Beijing has rolled out trade-in subsidies to spur sales of cars and appliances, the rebound in spending has been uneven.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Higher advertising sales and Peacock, which began carrying the NBA, helped deliver the gains.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
No matter how they're merchandised, take notice of these home staples.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
-
In-store, the line will be merchandised across the young adult floor pad for its fashion and sportswear, with intimates and sleep living on the intimates and sleepwear floor pad.—
Emily Mercer,
Footwear News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That means nothing bars him from closing on the transaction as early as this week.—
Paul Edward Parker,
The Providence Journal,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The group acquired Lapo Elkann’s Italia Independent brand in 2023, in a transaction pegged at 1 million euros.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Prosecutors allege the defendants sold meal packs intended for vulnerable families overseas and exchanged millions in benefits for cash.—
Jennifer Nassour,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Other local volunteers come by regularly to bring him coffee and baked goods, or to exchange news.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After her 2021 commutation, Camberos and her brother were convicted of defrauding manufacturers to resell food at markup, generating millions to fund a lavish lifestyle.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2026
-
It's alleged that Rates managed the thefts, directing others to steal the sports cards from local stores, including Target, paying them in cash, and collecting the merchandise to resell.—
Shelley Bortz,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Add a jacket, swap the shoes, and suddenly your airport look works for sightseeing or dinner, too.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The Record of the Year nominees are nearly identical to the nominees for Song of the Year — just swap out a handful of demon hunters for a very sad commuter.—
Jason Lamphier,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Alongside fellow co-owner John Mara, Tisch assumed control of the team in 2005 after his father had purchased a majority stake in the team in 1991.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Biden purchased the bracelet but sent the vase to the archives.—
MATTHEW LEE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The union had been bargaining with Kaiser since last May.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The union said nurses are committed to bargaining daily to settle the dispute.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Auction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/auction. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
