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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as in to merchandise
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of auction
Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Feb. 2026
For many pieces, like a Hermès Kelly in rare Doblis (calf suede) or one of the 25 Kaws chairs ever made in collaboration with Fernando Campana, require years of patience—and a lot of luck at auctions and private sales.
—Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2026
Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 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, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for auction
Noun
Tickets for the event, which includes a five course meal and auction, are $298 each.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Feb. 2026
For many pieces, like a Hermès Kelly in rare Doblis (calf suede) or one of the 25 Kaws chairs ever made in collaboration with Fernando Campana, require years of patience—and a lot of luck at auctions and private sales.
—Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
If the highway administration again intervenes and stops the sale, Caltrans will have to auction off the land, local officials said.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 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, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for auction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for auction
Noun
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Direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales account for 75% of revenue, while the remaining 25% is generated through wholesale.—
Amy Francombe,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
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Soriot has played this geopolitical game better than many in his industry, transforming AstraZeneca’s global reach as well as its sales, reputation, and pipeline of promising drugs.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The rights to his image are managed by CMG Worldwide, which specializes in celebrities merchandising.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
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No matter how they're merchandised, take notice of these home staples.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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While a few real estate agents’ names appear in the listing, they were involved in a previous sale and did not participate in this latest transaction.—
Sandra Barrera,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
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Tornado Cash, which allows users to anonymize crypto transactions.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Who wouldn’t exchange a day at middle school for Liu’s glamorous existence?—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
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As Kaedi Cecala stood beside her husband, Mikey Cecala, the couple exchanged vows surrounded by family and friends gathered to celebrate their wedding.—
Shafiq Najib,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Olympic athletes don’t compete to resell their medals, and most are in the Games for the prestige the medals represent.—
Jacqueline Gu,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
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Fans lucky enough to win those lotteries sometimes then resell their tickets for multiples of the original price.—
Julian Torres,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But allegations of vote-swapping and selling of votes by French judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne led to an investigation by the ISU and the International Olympic Committee, and she was ultimately found guilty of misconduct and suspended.—
Dave Skretta,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
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The shoe is rendered entirely in black, swapping its Kevlar weave for suede.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Then, after the Gadsden Purchase, the now southern border of Arizona was also purchased.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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Local media reported that India will purchase 114 Rafale jets, with 18 supplied by manufacturer Dassault and the remaining 96 manufactured domestically.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This was partly out of deference to a president who thinks not of enemies but only of potential counterparties to be bargained with, bullied, swindled, or accommodated.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
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The move comes one month before the WGA is due to sit down with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to begin bargaining a new contract for Hollywood TV and film writers.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Auction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/auction. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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