sold

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sold" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in various contexts, typically to indicate that something has been transferred to a new owner in exchange for money. Example: "The house was sold within a week of being listed on the market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Ocean's Eleven director eventually sold his project to pay TV network HBO in the US, making it ineligible for film's most high-profile awards ceremony.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Fifa sold hospitality rights for the 2010 and 2014 World Cups for $240m and has a $300m deal in place with Match Hospitality and Match Services for the next two tournaments as well.

The Guardian - Sport

In the early 2000s, pharmaceutical companies were high on activists' hit lists, prompted by Big Pharma's ill-advised attempt to sue the South African government for patent infringement on HIV drugs; an attempt to deal with the country's epidemic by allowing cheaper, generic copies to be sold.

The Guardian

And the Barrow title sold an average of 10,713 a copy in the six months up to June, down 8.7% on last year.

The Guardian

But how much of the price of every cup of coffee sold is paid to coffee-producing nations?

The Guardian - Opinion

Four couples won a total of $3.165m on Wednesday night's show after the four apartments they had renovated and furnished during the series sold in a thriving Melbourne property market.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Fans gathered two hours before kick-off to welcome the team bus, 55,000 tickets had been sold and the noise was deafening.

The Guardian - Sport

They traffic in human beings, often, as I heard for myself a few weeks back, young girls sold into prostitution; they deal in drugs, with levels of violence unimaginable in the past.

The Guardian - Opinion

"And perhaps most importantly, he has bragging rights in the Blair household – Cherie's Speaking for Myself sold 3,877 in its first week," he added.

The Guardian - Books

Blair's A Journey sold 92,060 copies in its first four days on sale last week, according to Nielsen BookScan – the best ever opening week sale for an autobiography since the book sales monitor's records began, in 1998, and well ahead of Mandelson's The Third Man's performance, which sold 14,960 copies in three days when it was published in July.

The Guardian - Books

But because you came down Monday and we'd sold out, you can?' "I did manage to get him one.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a sale, use precise language to specify what was "sold", to whom, and for what price to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of just saying "The product was sold", specify "The product was sold to a retailer for $50".

Common error

Avoid phrasing sentences solely in the passive voice (e.g., "The items were sold"). Use active voice when possible to clarify who performed the action of selling (e.g., "The company sold the items").

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "sold" is as the past tense and past participle of the verb "sell". It describes a completed action of transferring ownership in exchange for payment. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with numerous examples demonstrating its role in various sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "sold" is the past tense of "sell" used to indicate the completion of a transaction involving the transfer of ownership, most often for monetary compensation. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that "sold" is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts. Its frequency is very common, and it maintains a neutral register making it suitable for business, news, and general communication. When using "sold", it's important to clarify the specific details of the sale to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity. Common synonyms include "transferred ownership" and "finalized the transaction".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

closed the sale

Highlights the final stage of the selling process, indicating that the transaction is complete.

transferred ownership

Focuses on the act of transferring the right of ownership, rather than the transaction itself.

exchanged for money

Highlights the monetary aspect of the transaction, specifying that something was given in return for money.

finalized the transaction

Highlights the completion of all steps required for a sale to be legally binding.

liquidated assets

Specifically refers to converting assets into cash, often in a business context.

disposed of

Emphasizes the act of getting rid of something, which may or may not involve a sale.

brokered a deal

Emphasizes the negotiation aspect of facilitating a sale between two parties.

passed on

Can imply inheritance or a transfer without direct monetary exchange.

made a deal

A general term for reaching an agreement, often implying a sale but not exclusively.

marketed successfully

Focuses on the marketing efforts that led to a sale, rather than the sale itself.

FAQs

How is "sold" typically used in a sentence?

The word "sold" is the past tense and past participle of "sell", indicating the completion of a transaction where goods or services were exchanged for money. For example, "The company "sold" its products online".

What are some synonyms for "sold" in a business context?

In a business context, synonyms for "sold" include "transferred ownership", "liquidated assets", or "finalized the transaction". These alternatives can add nuance and precision to your writing.

Which is correct, "sold to" or "sold at"?

"Sold to" indicates the recipient of the sale (e.g., "The car was sold to John"). "Sold at" indicates the price or location of the sale (e.g., "The house was sold at auction" or "sold at a high price").

What's the difference between "sold" and "marketed"?

"Marketed" refers to the activities undertaken to promote and advertise a product or service. "Sold" refers to the actual transaction where ownership is transferred. Something can be heavily "marketed" but not "sold" successfully.