auction 1 of 2

noun

Definition of auctionnext
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.

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auction

2 of 2

verb

as in to merchandise

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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
Noun
The proposal would let any grocer, whether a bodega in the Bronx or a Kroger in Lansing, buy a basket of 20 staples at a similar auction price. — David L. Ortega, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026 This has raised prices at power capacity auctions, and states like Maryland have seen increasing residential prices that are at least in part from this boom. — Shannon Osaka, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2026
Verb
The car is heading to auction with under 1,600 kilometers (less than 994 miles) on the odometer. — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 5 Oct. 2026 The identity of the party responsible for bring the work to auction is unknown. — News Desk, Artforum, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for auction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for auction
  1. sale
  2. merchandise
  3. transaction
  4. exchange
  5. resell
  6. swap
  7. purchase
  8. bargain
Noun
  • The most bullish analysts think its sales will hit $1 trillion in 2029.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Racks of uniforms filled her home’s entryway in preparation for an upcoming sale.
    — Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of sale
Verb
  • Dress shirts are merchandised in the center, and include the popular Traveler assortment.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Expect retailers to start merchandising home fragrance by room rather than by scent family, and expect brands to release coordinated multi-room sets.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of merchandise
Noun
  • According to Fulton County jail records, New has been arrested multiple times on suspicion of crimes including identity theft, insurance fraud, financial transaction card fraud, forgery and simple assault.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • However, vulnerabilities remain and include privacy and discretion in transactions, market accessibility, and jurisdictional fragmentation, all of which facilitate illicit financial flows.
    — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of transaction
Verb
  • Other traditions include setting off firecrackers and exchanging sweets and gifts with friends and family.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The brief, 10-minute meeting was private, during which the two exchanged gifts.
    — Alfredo Toriello, Vanity Fair, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of exchange
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Wilson said the restrictions have particularly affected collectors and dealers who buy cards ungraded, send them to PSA and then resell them at a higher price.
    — Matthew Tan, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Either way, the goods are eventually transferred to a driver working with the thieves to resell the gear, and, in one of the largest thefts, tracking coordinates were spoofed to prevent digital monitoring.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of resell
Verb
  • This distinct atmosphere is especially noticeable in the second set when Cooper swaps his trap set for a balafon and Taylor reaches into his piano to pluck the strings.
    — Levi Dayan, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Unlike Apollo-era spacesuits sized to each astronaut, the EMU was designed to be reused, so its components can be swapped out to fit astronauts of different sizes.
    — Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of swap
Verb
  • In 1925 Friedrich Frey-Fürst purchased the property and Bürgenstock entered its golden era.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Holt Renfrew shoppers can also purchase a selection of caviars, including Baeri, Kaluga, and Royal Ossetra varieties along with mother-of-pearl caviar spoons, ceramic ashtrays, and other collectibles.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of purchase
Verb
  • Whether Democrats treat him as someone to be investigated or someone to be bargained with may be the most important open question for him in the next two years.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The union and the university have been battling for more than a year over whether the union should be allowed to bargain on behalf of the workers.
    — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of bargain

Browse Nearby Words

au courant
auction
auctioned
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Cite this Entry

“Auction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/auction. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about auction

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