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
Marc Malkin, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
In 2019, multiple relics from the shipwreck hauled in more than $11 million at auction.
—CBS News, 10 Mar. 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
The party will include its signature live auction.
—Marc Malkin, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
In 2019, multiple relics from the shipwreck hauled in more than $11 million at auction.
—CBS News, 10 Mar. 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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In his first 10 years, selling Aflac’s products on commission in Alabama, sales for his area shot from $600,000 to $11 million.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
6 Mar. 2026
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After several years of rapid expansion, sales growth has slowed, and competition has intensified.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 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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With the books closed on the Rozier transaction, as the guard awaits his federal trial on charges linked to a gambling investigation, the Heat will receive from the Hornets the better of the second-round picks the Hornets are due in June from the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
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Under the terms of the transaction, three new minority partners joined the franchise’s cap table.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Panama’s Jonathan Araúz exchanged shouts and pushes with manager José Mayorga when the pinch hitter returned to the dugout after grounding out leading off the ninth.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
When allegations of misconduct arose against Krauss at ASU, the physicist exchanged dozens of messages and emails with Epstein seeking advice on how to handle them.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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However, owners or insurance companies can purchase a salvage title, keep the vehicle, and resell it—with restrictions on salvage title sales.—
Larry Seward,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
What the Chinese firms are accused of The company claims the three labs bypassed geofencing and business restrictions that limit Claude’s commercial availability in China by routing traffic through proxy services that resell access to major Western AI models.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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With just five suitcases and their Shih Tzu Bubbles in tow, the family – Thorn, 43, husband Blair, 44, and their children Eva and Chase – swapped their home in New Zealand’s capital for a place in Melbourne – a third larger at the same price.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
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The Bruins made their first trade of the deadline day, swapping minor leaguers with the Philadelphia Flyers.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Longtime Pacific Palisades residents Laura and Tim Schneider purchased the paper and intend to relaunch it with a brand-new website on May 4, coinciding with the publication’s 98th anniversary.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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The lobbyist helped secure Downtown Plaza as the site for the new Kings arena, putting together a deal with real estate developers to purchase the site and later sell it for a significant profit.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One potential—though untested—workaround would be for conferences, which are private entities, to serve as a joint employer that bargains with a players’ union.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 Mar. 2026
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If the companies want stability, that can always be achieved by being willing to bargain and address the very real concerns of writers.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Auction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/auction. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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