Definition

Adjective: Not sold; remaining available for purchase because no buyer has been acquired. It describes items, goods, or properties that have been offered for sale but have not yet been purchased.

Usage

The adjective "unsold" is used to describe the state of merchandise, tickets, shares, or properties that remain in the seller's possession after being made available for purchase. It typically follows a linking verb like "be," "remain," or "stay," or comes before a noun it modifies.

Examples

• Following a linking verb:
  • Despite the discount, many items were left unsold after the sale.
  • All the tickets for the concert remained unsold.
• Before a noun:
  • The auction house will store the unsold paintings.
  • They had to deal with a large inventory of unsold stock.

Advanced Usage

• "go unsold": This phrase emphasizes the process or result of not being sold, often in auctions or timed sales.
  • Several rare manuscripts went unsold at the auction due to high reserve prices.
• "left unsold": Highlights the remaining quantity after a selling period.
  • Only a few copies of the book were left unsold.

Variants and Related Words

• Unsalable (Adjective): Not fit or able to be sold, often due to poor quality or lack of demand. This implies a reason for not being sold, whereas "unsold" is a neutral statement of fact.
  • The damaged goods were deemed unsalable.

Synonyms

• Unpurchased: Not bought. (More formal/literal)
• On hand: In one's possession or inventory. (Implies availability)
• In stock: Available for sale from current inventory.

Antonyms

• Sold: Disposed of to a buyer.
• Purchased: Bought by someone.
• Out of stock: No longer available for sale because all items have been sold.

Adjective

1. not disposed of by purchase
   • the house has been on the market almost a year and is still unsold