Words / B2

ORKSHUN/ˈɔːkʃn/

An auction is a public sale in which goods go to the person who offers the most money: sold at auction, an online auction. Sale is everyday and broader; bidding is the activity. Auctioneer is the person in charge. At auction / up for auction are set phrases. In speech, a sale where people bid is enough. It is not a synonym for a charity jumble sale, where prices are usually fixed.

Meaning

A public sale in which goods go to the person who offers the most money.

Examples

• “The painting was sold at auction.”
• “The painting went for far more at auction than the estimate.”
• “School laptops were sold at auction after the upgrade.”

Good to know

sold at auction. A sale to the highest bidder. Everyday: a bidding sale. Person: auctioneer. Not a fixed-price jumble sale.

Near in meaning

sale

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