sell at auction

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sell at auction" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the process of offering items for sale to the highest bidder in an auction setting. Example: "The rare painting will sell at auction next week, and we expect it to fetch a high price."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Prize breeds can sell at auction for thousands of pounds.

Independent

Plenty of wines sell at auction for great sums — are they worth it?

The New York Times - Magazine

Sellers may be tempted to sell at auction, rather than through private dealers.

The Economist

Houses that don't sell at auction become known as real estate owned, or R.E.O.

The New York Times

No work of art will sell at auction for the same price within a month.

The New York Times

In May, he tried to sell at auction the gun that he used to kill Martin.

The New Yorker

Works by the most prominent Czech modern artists now sell at auction for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The New York Times - Arts

The seeds from Meier's pumpkin will likely sell at auction for more than a thousand dollars each.

The New Yorker

The dealers had bought it from Sotheby's after the painting failed to sell at auction a year ago.

The New York Times - Arts

In 2009, Stansall estimated about 50% of racehorses in Ireland and 30% in England were failing to sell at auction.

The Guardian

In 2002 a guitar thought to be the one burned in London failed to sell at auction in Miami.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sell at auction", ensure the context clearly indicates the item being sold and the auction's location or platform if relevant. For instance: "The painting will "sell at auction" at Sotheby's next month."

Common error

Avoid assuming a guaranteed high price when items "sell at auction". Auction outcomes are influenced by various factors, including bidder interest and the item's perceived value at that specific time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sell at auction" functions as a verb phrase describing the action of offering an item for sale to the highest bidder. Ludwig AI examples showcase its use in various contexts, indicating its broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sell at auction" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression for describing the process of selling items through a bidding system. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media. While grammatically sound, success in selling at auction hinges on understanding market dynamics and accurately assessing item value. Alternative phrases like "auction off" or "put up for auction" offer stylistic variations. Avoid assuming guaranteed high prices; auction outcomes depend on various factors. In summary, "sell at auction" is a versatile and prevalent term for a specific sales method.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

auction off

Replaces "sell at" with a single verb, streamlining the phrase.

put up for auction

Emphasizes the action of making something available for auction.

offer for sale at auction

Adds formality by explicitly stating the offering for sale.

place on the auction block

Uses a more figurative term for the auction process.

market through auction

Focuses on the marketing aspect of selling via auction.

dispose of at auction

Highlights the act of getting rid of something through auction.

liquidate at auction

Implies selling assets quickly, often due to financial reasons.

trade at auction

Suggests bartering or exchange as part of the auction process.

find a buyer at auction

Focuses on finding someone to purchase the item through the auction process.

divest through auction

Emphasizes the act of selling off assets, often on a larger scale, via auction.

FAQs

How can I use "sell at auction" in a sentence?

You can use "sell at auction" to describe the act of offering something for sale through a bidding process. For example: "The antique car will "sell at auction" next week."

What's a similar phrase to "sell at auction"?

Similar phrases include "auction off", "put up for auction", or "offer for sale at auction". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to "sell at auction" or sell privately?

Whether to "sell at auction" or privately depends on the item, your timeline, and your risk tolerance. Auctions can generate competitive bidding, but private sales offer more control over the final price and terms.

What factors influence the price when items "sell at auction"?

Factors influencing prices when items "sell at auction" include the item's rarity, condition, provenance, current market demand, and the number of interested bidders.