Definition

1. Verb (transitive & intransitive):

   • To exchange (a commodity or service) for money: The primary meaning is to give something to someone in return for payment.
   • To promote or persuade someone to accept something: To convince someone of the value or desirability of an idea, plan, or product.
   • To betray or be disloyal: To give up or hand over someone or something for personal gain or under pressure.

2. Noun (informal):

   • An act or instance of selling: The process of persuading someone to buy.
   • A disappointment or trick: A situation or item that is presented as good but turns out to be bad or disappointing.

Usage Examples

• Verb (transitive):

  • She wants to sell her old car. (She wants to exchange her old car for money.)
  • He sold his company for a large profit. (He exchanged ownership of his company for a large sum of money.)
  • The politician was accused of selling his influence. (He was accused of betraying his duty for personal gain.)

• Verb (intransitive):

  • This model sells very well in Asia. (This model is exchanged for money frequently in Asia; it is popular.)
  • If the price is right, the painting will sell quickly. (The painting will be exchanged for money quickly if the price is appropriate.)

• Noun:

  • The salesman made a difficult sell to the cautious client. (The salesman completed a difficult act of persuasion.)
  • The concert was a real sell; the band played for only 20 minutes. (The concert was a disappointment.)

Advanced Usage

• "To sell someone on something": To convince someone that an idea or plan is good.

  • The manager sold the team on the new strategy. (The manager convinced the team of the new strategy's value.)

• "To sell oneself": To promote one's own abilities, often in a job interview or similar context.

  • You need to sell yourself during the interview. (You need to convincingly present your skills and value.)

• "Sold out" (adjective): Having all tickets or items already purchased.

  • The show is completely sold out. (All tickets for the show have been exchanged for money; none are left.)

Variants and Related Words

• Seller (n): A person or entity that sells something.

  • She is a book seller. (Her job is to exchange books for money.)

• Sale (n): The act or an instance of selling; a period when goods are offered at reduced prices.

  • The sale of the house was finalized. (The exchange of the house for money was completed.)
  • The store is having a big sale. (The store is offering goods at reduced prices.)

• Best-seller (n): A product, especially a book, that sells in very large numbers.

  • Her novel became an instant best-seller. (Her novel was exchanged for money in very large numbers immediately.)

Synonyms

• Vend: To offer for sale.
• Market: To promote or try to sell.
• Peddle: To sell goods, especially by traveling from place to place.
• Betray: To be disloyal (for the meaning of treachery).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Sell off: To sell something quickly and cheaply, often to get rid of it.

  • The company sold off its old equipment. (The company exchanged its old equipment for money quickly, likely at a low price.)

• Sell out (of something): To have sold all available items.

  • We have sold out of tickets. (We have exchanged all tickets for money; none remain.)

• Sell out (to someone/something): To abandon one's principles for personal gain.

  • Many fans felt the band sold out when they signed with a major label. (Fans felt the band betrayed their original principles for money or fame.)

Related Idioms

• Sell like hotcakes: To be sold very quickly and in large quantities.

  • The new smartphone is selling like hotcakes. (The new smartphone is being exchanged for money very rapidly.)

• Sell someone down the river: To betray someone, especially for personal advantage.

  • He sold his partner down the river to get the promotion. (He betrayed his partner to gain the promotion for himself.)

• Hard sell: An aggressive or high-pressure sales technique.

  • The customer disliked the salesman's hard sell. (The customer disliked the aggressive persuasion.)

Noun

1. the activity of persuading someone to buy
   • it was a hard sell

Verb

1. deliver to an enemy by treachery
   • Judas sold Jesus
   • The spy betrayed his country
2. be responsible for the sale of
   • All her publicity sold the products
3. be approved of or gain acceptance
   • The new idea sold well in certain circles
4. give up for a price or reward
   • She sold her principles for a successful career
5. do business; offer for sale as for one's livelihood
   • She deals in gold
   • The brothers sell shoes
6. persuade somebody to accept something
   • The French try to sell us their image as great lovers
7. be sold at a certain price or in a certain way
   • These books sell like hot cakes
8. exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent
   • He sold his house in January
   • She sells her body to survive and support her drug habit