noun
Uncommon
IPO
IPO (noun) means Short for initial public offering — the first time a company sells shares to the general public on a stock exchange. Example: “The startup's IPO raised over two billion dollars.”
noun
1
Short for initial public offering — the first time a company sells shares to the general public on a stock exchange.
"The startup's IPO raised over two billion dollars."
"Employees held stock options that only paid off after the IPO."
How to use IPO
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe moment a private company "goes public" and starts trading shares anyone can buy.
Common mistake
IPO is normally a noun ("the IPO"), though it's sometimes used loosely as a verb ("the company IPO'd in 2021").
Common pairings
launch an IPO
IPO price
go public with an IPO
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- IPOs
- Past tense
- IPOed, IPO'ed, IPO-ed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The startup's _____ raised over two billion dollars.
Synonyms
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initial offering
initial public offering
Frequently asked questions
What does “IPO” mean?
The word “IPO” means short for initial public offering — the first time a company sells shares to the general public on a stock exchange. In plain terms, the moment a private company "goes public" and starts trading shares anyone can buy.
How do you use “IPO” in a sentence?
Here is “IPO” used in a sentence: “The startup's IPO raised over two billion dollars.”
What part of speech is “IPO”?
“IPO” is a noun.
Is “IPO” a common word?
“IPO” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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