as in sales
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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Recent Examples of auctions
Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 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
The rare Pikachu Illustrator card –– one of just 39 created for a Pokémon illustration competition in the late 90s –– went under the hammer on Goldin auctions on Monday.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
The festival has previously welcomed more than 1,000 guests from around 80 countries, with attendees participating in auctions and touring tobacco plantations.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
Finally, there are various price guides (Kovels, for example) that can be consulted which report values of different objects sold at auctions, shows, flea markets and shops.
—R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2026
Every year, the company hosts the annual Habanos Festival, a key event for cigar aficionados and distributors worldwide, where attendees tour tobacco plantations, participate in auctions and witness the latest in craftsmanship.
—Andrea Rodriguez, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Loan defaults, foreclosures, and hotel property auctions due to distressed financing show that an array of ailments afflict the region’s lodging market.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
In fact, many auctions are conducted online now, making the process more accessible.
—Shagun Khare, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
The franchise’s signature fundraiser for the OMYF includes vintner dinners, a wine festival and live and e-auctions.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 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
The rare Pikachu Illustrator card –– one of just 39 created for a Pokémon illustration competition in the late 90s –– went under the hammer on Goldin auctions on Monday.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
The festival has previously welcomed more than 1,000 guests from around 80 countries, with attendees participating in auctions and touring tobacco plantations.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
Finally, there are various price guides (Kovels, for example) that can be consulted which report values of different objects sold at auctions, shows, flea markets and shops.
—R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2026
Every year, the company hosts the annual Habanos Festival, a key event for cigar aficionados and distributors worldwide, where attendees tour tobacco plantations, participate in auctions and witness the latest in craftsmanship.
—Andrea Rodriguez, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Loan defaults, foreclosures, and hotel property auctions due to distressed financing show that an array of ailments afflict the region’s lodging market.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
In fact, many auctions are conducted online now, making the process more accessible.
—Shagun Khare, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for auctions
Noun
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Chinese officials have already signaled pressure on Taiwan arms sales.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Blue Ant Rights is handling all sales as the global distribution partner.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Dorian Gray, the Victorian era’s proto-Clavicular, literally exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty—a move that the looksmaxxing community would seem to endorse wholeheartedly.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
19 Jan. 2026
-
The group exchanges little looks.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
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If balances remained at the end of a school year, IMG rolled them over to subsequent academic years, OFAC said, adding that those transactions were then exchanged for the attendance and enrollment of two student-athletes.—
Zach Powell,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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Instead, the firm will rely on secondary transactions, where current owners of existing team stakes sell them to new buyers.—
Luisa Beltran,
Sportico.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Juliette Lewis swaps bodies with a chair in this new surrealist vision from writer-director Amanda Kramer (Please Baby Please) narrated by Melanie Griffith and co-starring Mamoudou Athie (Kinds of Kindness), Samantha Mathis (American Psycho) and Robin Tunney (The Craft).—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
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Jett, who is typically outfitted in a catsuit — no pun intended — swaps her sporty look for a glistening gold halter top and a pair of empire waist trousers while arriving at a particularly important game.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Nonetheless, a second round of negotiations will be held on Tuesday in Geneva, according to multiple reports.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Feb. 2026
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The Danish territory got no mentions in the speech, as negotiations over its fate proceed slowly.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In this Gothic fantasy debut, Leena Al-Sayer bargains her ability to see the dead in order to pay for the expensive medicine her brother Rami needs to live.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
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Those restraints are lawful because the NFL collectively bargains them with the NFL players association.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Nanos told the outlet that Walmart has provided investigators with records of all Ozark Trail Hiker purchases online and in-store over the last several months, including outside of the Tucson, Arizona, metro area.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
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The Federal Reserve drops interest rates down to zero and purchases hundreds of billions of dollars of safe assets, making borrowing cheaper for families and encouraging businesses to invest.—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The fuel shortage deals another blow to a country that relies heavily on tourism, an industry that once generated $3 billion in annual revenue and served as a vital economic lifeline.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Age always deals the last hand.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Auctions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/auctions. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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