trade in
Definition
Verb: 1. To give something used as partial payment for a new item: To exchange an old or used possession, typically as part of the financial transaction when buying a newer or upgraded version of a similar item.
Usage
This verb is commonly used in commercial and retail contexts, especially when purchasing vehicles, electronics, or appliances. It describes the action of offering a used item to a seller to reduce the final price of a new purchase. It is often followed by the preposition "for" to indicate the new item being acquired.
Examples
- The dealership offered a good deal if we trade in our old sedan.
- She decided to trade in her smartphone for the latest model.
- You can often trade in used books at that store for store credit.
Advanced Usage
- "to trade something in": This separable phrasal verb structure allows the object (the old item) to be placed between "trade" and "in."
- I'm thinking of trading my laptop in for one with a better graphics card.
- The related noun form is "trade-in" (often hyphenated), referring to the item being exchanged or the transaction itself.
- They gave me a generous trade-in value for my old refrigerator.
- The car was purchased using a trade-in.
Variants and Related Words
- Trade-in (noun): The item offered in such an exchange or the act of trading it in.
- My old truck was the trade-in.
- Exchange (verb): A more general term for giving one thing and receiving another.
- Part-exchange (verb/noun, chiefly British): A synonym for "trade in."
Synonyms
- Exchange
- Barter (though this implies a direct swap without money, not a partial payment)
- Swap (informal, for a general exchange)
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Trade up: To exchange something for a more expensive or advanced model.
- He traded up from a compact car to an SUV.
Related Idioms
- Trade in one's chips: (Slang, based on gambling) To die or to quit.
- This idiom is not directly related to the commercial meaning of "trade in" but shares the verb.
Verb
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turn in as payment or part payment for a purchase
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trade in an old car for a new one
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