noun
Common
auction
AWK-shuhn
Auction (noun) means a public sale in which goods or property are sold to whoever bids the highest price. Example: “Dad bought an old clock at an auction and spent weeks restoring it.”
noun
1
A public sale in which goods or property are sold to whoever bids the highest price.
"Dad bought an old clock at an auction and spent weeks restoring it."
"The house went to auction and sold for well above the asking price."
"Bidders packed the room for the charity auction."
verb
1
To sell something at an auction.
"The school will auction a signed football to raise money for new books."
"They plan to auction their late uncle's furniture on Saturday morning."
"The gallery decided to auction off the collection piece by piece."
How to use auction
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sale where buyers compete by offering higher and higher prices until one wins.
Common pairings
put up for auction
auction off
silent auction
online auction
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Word forms
- Plural
- auctions
- Third person singular
- auctions
- Past tense
- auctioned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Dad bought an old clock at an _____ and spent weeks restoring it.
Etymology
From Latin auctio, "an increase," from augere, "to increase" — because the price climbs as people bid.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for auction
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for auction →
Frequently asked questions
What does “auction” mean?
The word “auction” means a public sale in which goods or property are sold to whoever bids the highest price. In plain terms, a sale where buyers compete by offering higher and higher prices until one wins.
How do you pronounce “auction”?
“Auction” is pronounced AWK-shuhn (/ˈɔkʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “auction” in a sentence?
Here is “auction” used in a sentence: “The house went to auction and sold for well above the asking price.”
What is another word for “auction”?
Words with a similar meaning to “auction” include roup sale.
What part of speech is “auction”?
Depending on how it is used, “auction” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “auction” come from?
The word “auction” comes from Latin. From Latin auctio, "an increase," from augere, "to increase" — because the price climbs as people bid.
Is “auction” a common word?
“Auction” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “auction” have?
“Auction” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a public sale in which goods or property are sold to whoever bids the highest price.
What is the difference between an auction and a regular sale?
In a regular sale, the seller sets a fixed price that buyers either pay or decline. In an auction, goods or property are sold to whoever bids the highest price, so the final amount is decided by competition among buyers rather than the seller.
What is the difference between an auction and a raffle?
An auction is a public sale where items go to the highest bidder, so the amount paid depends on competing bids. A raffle awards an item by random draw among ticket holders, so winning depends on chance rather than the amount offered.
What are common collocations with 'auction'?
'Auction' frequently appears in phrases such as 'put up for auction,' 'sell at auction,' 'auction house,' 'silent auction,' and 'live auction.' These describe the setting or method by which items are sold to the highest bidder.
Can 'auction' be used as both a noun and a verb?
Yes. As a noun, an auction is a public sale in which goods go to the highest bidder. As a verb, to auction means to sell something at an auction, as in 'they auctioned the paintings.'
