First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1sell
verb \ˈsel\
: to exchange (something) for money
: to make (something) available to be bought
: to be able to be bought for a particular price
sold \ˈsōld\ sell·ing
Full Definition of SELL
transitive verb
1
: to deliver or give up in violation of duty, trust, or loyalty and especially for personal gain : betray —often used with out <sell out their country>
2
a (1) : to give up (property) to another for something of value (as money) (2) : to offer for sale b : to give up in return for something else especially foolishly or dishonorably <sold his birthright for a mess of pottage> c : to exact a price for <sold their lives dearly>
3
a : to deliver into slavery for money b : to give into the power of another <sold his soul to the devil> c : to deliver the personal services of for money
4
: to dispose of or manage for profit instead of in accordance with conscience, justice, or duty <sold their votes>
5
a : to develop a belief in the truth, value, or desirability of : gain acceptance for <trying to sell a program to the Congress> b : to persuade or influence to a course of action or to the acceptance of something <sell children on reading>
6
: to impose on : cheat
7
a : to cause or promote the sale of <using television advertising to sell cereal> b : to make or attempt to make sales to c : to influence or induce to make a purchase
8
: to achieve a sale of <sold a million copies>
intransitive verb
1
: to dispose of something by sale <thinks now is a good time to sell>
2
: to achieve a sale; also : to achieve satisfactory sales <hoped that the new line would sell>
3
: to have a specified price
— sell·able \ˈse-lə-bəl\ adjective
— sell down the river
: to betray the faith of
— sell short
1
: to make a short sale
2
: to fail to value properly : underestimate
See sell defined for English-language learners
See sell defined for kids
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Origin of SELL
Middle English, from Old English sellan; akin to Old High German sellen to sell, Greek helein to take
Related to SELL
- Synonyms
- deal (in), merchandise (also merchandize), put up, retail, market, vend
2sell
noun
Definition of SELL
1
: a deliberate deception : hoax
2
: the act or an instance of selling
3
: something to be sold or caused to be accepted <the new mystery novel was an easy sell>; also : someone to whom something is sold <the new purchasing agent was a tough sell>
First Known Use of SELL
1838
3sell
noun \ˈsel\
Definition of SELL
archaic : saddle
Variants of SELL
sell or selle \ˈsel\
Origin of SELL
Middle English selle, from Anglo-French sele, from Latin sella — more at settle
First Known Use: 15th century
4sell
Definition of SELL
chiefly Scottish variant of self
SELLING Defined for Kids
sell
verb \ˈsel\
sold \ˈsōld\sell·ing
Definition of SELL for Kids
1
: to exchange in return for money or something else of value <He sold his bike to my brother.>
2
: to make available for sale <The store sells shoes.>
3
: to be sold or priced <The new product is selling well.> <These sell for a dollar apiece.>
— sell·er noun
— sell out
1
: to be bought until all are gone <Tickets quickly sold out.>
2
: to betray a person or duty <They sold out their country.>
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