Definition

1. Verb:
   • To sell all of one's available stock of a particular item: To dispose of the entire inventory of a product, leaving none available for purchase.
   • To betray one's principles or associates for personal gain, especially for money: To compromise one's integrity, ideals, or loyalties, often for financial benefit or popularity.

Usage Examples

• Verb (To sell all stock):

  • The concert tickets sold out in under an hour.
  • We can't get that book; the store sold out yesterday.

• Verb (To betray principles):

  • Many fans accused the band of selling out when they signed with a major corporation.
  • He sold out his colleagues to get the promotion.

Advanced Usage

• "to be sold out": Describes a state where all tickets or items have been purchased.

  • I'm sorry, the show is completely sold out.

• "a sellout" (noun): A person who betrays a cause or principle for personal gain; also, an event for which all tickets have been sold.

  • He was called a sellout for endorsing the product.
  • The game was a total sellout.

Variants and Related Words

• Sellout (n): The act or an instance of selling out, in either sense.
  • The artist's commercial deal was seen as a major sellout.

Synonyms

• Dispose of: To get rid of by selling (for the inventory sense).
• Betray: To be disloyal to (for the principle sense).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Sell off: To sell something, especially quickly or at a low price. (Note: This is a distinct phrasal verb).
  • The company decided to sell off its old equipment.

Related Idioms

• Sell one's soul: To compromise one's principles for a great reward (stronger connotation than "sell out").
  • He sold his soul for fame and fortune.

Verb

1. give information that compromises others
2. get rid of all one's merchandise