Auction — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈȯk-shən/ auc·tion

Meaning & Definition of Auction

Auction (noun)

  1. a sale of property to the highest bidder
  2. the act or process of bidding in some card games

Auction (verb)

  1. to sell at auction

Auction (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a public event at which things are sold to the people who offer to pay the most

    "She bought the desk at an auction."

    "He made several bids at the auction."

    similar: silent auction, deal, sale, trade, transaction, haggle, horse-trading, negotiation, bargain, buy, steal, purchase, clearance, closeout, fire sale, fair, garage sale, jumble sale (British), rummage sale, tag sale, yard sale

Auction (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in exchange, swap

    similar: exchange, merchandise, rebuy, resell, swap, bargain, barter, horse-trade, negotiate, transact, buy, pick up, purchase, take, deal, trade, traffic, distribute, fair-trade, market, peddle, retail, sell, supply, vend, wholesale, black-market, bootleg, fence, smuggle, corner, engross, monopolize, undersell, day-trade, invest, speculate
    opposite: black (chiefly British), blackball, boycott

Related Entry: Silent auction (noun)

Silent auction is a different word from Auction. The synonyms below are for silent auction, not for auction.

  1. as in auction

    similar: auction, deal, sale, trade, transaction, haggle, horse-trading, negotiation, bargain, buy, steal, purchase, clearance, closeout, fire sale, fair, garage sale, jumble sale (British), rummage sale, tag sale, yard sale

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Auction

The most common words with a similar meaning to Auction:

British: jumble sale
silent auction, deal, sale, trade, transaction, haggle, horse-trading, negotiation, bargain, buy, steal, purchase, clearance, closeout, fire sale, fair, garage sale, rummage sale, tag sale, yard sale, exchange, merchandise, rebuy, resell, swap, barter, horse-trade, negotiate, transact, pick up, take, traffic, distribute, fair-trade, market, peddle, retail, sell, supply, vend

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Auction

Words with the opposite meaning of Auction:

black, blackball, boycott

Word Forms of Auction

Inflections: auctioned, auctioning

Origin & Etymology of Auction

Latin auction-, auctio, from augēre to increase eke

First known use: 1595

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Auction

Words & Phrases Containing Auction

auction bridge, auction house, silent auction

Frequently Asked Questions about Auction

What does "Auction" mean?

"Auction" means a sale of property to the highest bidder. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a sale of property to the highest bidder. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Auction"?

Other words for "Auction" include silent auction, deal, sale, trade, transaction, haggle, horse-trading and negotiation. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Auction" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Auction"?

There are 53 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Auction". Common alternatives include silent auction, deal, sale, trade, transaction, haggle, horse-trading, negotiation, bargain and buy.

What is the opposite of "Auction"?

Antonyms of "Auction" include black, blackball and boycott.

How do you use "Auction" in a sentence?

Examples of "Auction" in a sentence: "She bought the desk at an auction."; "He made several bids at the auction.".

Is "Auction" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Auction" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Auction" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Auction" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Auction"?

"Auction" is pronounced /ˈȯk-shən/ and divided into syllables as auc·tion.