sell
sehl
Sell (verb) means to hand over goods or services to someone in exchange for money. Example: “The market stall sells fresh fruit to anyone passing by.”
verb
1
To hand over goods or services to someone in exchange for money.
"The market stall sells fresh fruit to anyone passing by."
"She sold her old car for two thousand pounds."
"The shop sells everything from bread to batteries."
2
To promote or present an idea so that people accept it.
"She is great at selling a simple idea with just a few clear words."
"He tried to sell the board on his new marketing plan."
"You need to sell the idea before anyone will fund it."
3
To betray someone, especially for money or personal gain.
"He would never sell his friends for a bit of cash."
"The spy was accused of selling her country's secrets to the enemy."
"His old partner sold him out to save himself."
noun
1
An act of selling something, or a disappointing trick played on someone.
"The whole deal turned out to be a sell."
"The ticket offer was a real sell, and we felt foolish afterwards."
"It was an easy sell, because customers loved the product straight away."
How to use sell
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo exchange something you own for money, or more loosely, to get someone to accept an idea.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the verb "sell" with "sale" (the noun for the event or transaction itself).
Easily confused with
Common pairings
sell a house
sell an idea
sell out
hard sell
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Word forms
- Plural
- sells
- Third person singular
- sells
- Past tense
- sold
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The market stall _____ fresh fruit to anyone passing by.
Etymology
From Old English sellan, meaning "to give" or "to hand over for money" — the same Germanic root shows up in Swedish sälja and Danish sælge.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for sell
See all rhymes for sell →Frequently asked questions
What does “sell” mean?
The word “sell” means to hand over goods or services to someone in exchange for money. In plain terms, to exchange something you own for money, or more loosely, to get someone to accept an idea.
How do you pronounce “sell”?
“Sell” is pronounced sehl (/sɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “sell” in a sentence?
Here is “sell” used in a sentence: “The shop sells everything from bread to batteries.”
What is another word for “sell”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sell” include cheap, flog, hawk, monger, peddle and retail.
What is the opposite of “sell”?
The opposite of “sell” — its antonyms — are buy and barter.
What part of speech is “sell”?
Depending on how it is used, “sell” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “sell” come from?
The word “sell” comes from Old English. From Old English sellan, meaning "to give" or "to hand over for money" — the same Germanic root shows up in Swedish sälja and Danish sælge.
Is “sell” a common word?
“Sell” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between sell and sale?
'Sell' is a verb — the action of exchanging goods or services for money ('they sell shoes'). 'Sale' is a noun — either a single completed transaction ('we made a sale') or a period of discounted prices ('the summer sale'). If you can put 'a' or 'the' in front of it, you want 'sale.'
What is the opposite of sell?
The natural opposite is 'buy' or 'purchase' — the other side of the same transaction, where money moves in and goods move out. In a business context, opposites can also include 'acquire' or, when goods are held back rather than offered, 'keep' and 'retain.'
What is the past tense of sell?
'Sell' is irregular: both its past tense and past participle are 'sold.' So you say 'I sold the car yesterday' and 'the tickets have all been sold.' There is no form 'selled.' The present participle is 'selling,' as in 'they are selling their house.'
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