A1 verb Neutral #169 most common

sell

/sɛl/

To give something to someone in exchange for money. This action is the primary process in trade and business where ownership of a product or service is transferred for a specific price.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I sell fresh bread at the bakery every morning.

I sell fresh bread at the bakery every morning.

2

The corporation intends to sell its subsidiary to a private equity firm.

The corporation intends to sell its subsidiary to a private equity firm.

3

Are you going to sell your old video games on the internet?

Are you going to sell your old video games on the internet?

Word Family

Noun
sale
Verb
sell
Adjective
saleable
Related
seller
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Memory Tip

Think of the 'S' in Sell standing for 'Shopkeeper' who 'Exchanges' 'Local' 'Loot' for cash.

Quick Quiz

If the price is right, I will ____ my bicycle to you.

Correct!

The correct answer is: sell

Examples

1

I sell fresh bread at the bakery every morning.

everyday

I sell fresh bread at the bakery every morning.

2

The corporation intends to sell its subsidiary to a private equity firm.

formal

The corporation intends to sell its subsidiary to a private equity firm.

3

Are you going to sell your old video games on the internet?

informal

Are you going to sell your old video games on the internet?

4

Supply and demand curves illustrate the price at which producers are willing to sell.

academic

Supply and demand curves illustrate the price at which producers are willing to sell.

5

Our primary goal this month is to sell more units than our competitors.

business

Our primary goal this month is to sell more units than our competitors.

Word Family

Noun
sale
Verb
sell
Adjective
saleable
Related
seller

Common Collocations

sell online sell online
sell at a profit sell at a profit
sell out sell out
sell well sell well
try to sell try to sell

Common Phrases

sell like hotcakes

sell very quickly

sell someone short

to underestimate someone

hard sell

a policy of puting high pressure on a customer

Often Confused With

sell vs sale

Sale is a noun (The sale is over), while sell is a verb (I want to sell this).

sell vs sail

Sail refers to traveling on water in a boat; it sounds the same as 'sale' but is different from 'sell'.

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Usage Notes

Sell is an irregular verb. You can use it with two objects: 'I sold him my car' or with 'to': 'I sold my car to him.'

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Common Mistakes

Learners often use the noun 'sale' when they mean the verb 'sell', saying 'I want to sale my car' instead of 'I want to sell my car.'

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Memory Tip

Think of the 'S' in Sell standing for 'Shopkeeper' who 'Exchanges' 'Local' 'Loot' for cash.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Old English word 'sellan', which originally meant to give, furnish, or hand over.

Grammar Patterns

Irregular verb: sell (present), sold (past), sold (past participle). Transitive verb requiring an object (e.g., sell a car).
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Cultural Context

In many Western cultures, the price to sell an item is fixed in shops, whereas in many other cultures, selling involves a process of bargaining or haggling.

Quick Quiz

If the price is right, I will ____ my bicycle to you.

Correct!

The correct answer is: sell

Related Words

proceed

C1

The noun form, typically used in the plural 'proceeds,' refers to the total amount of money received from a particular event, sale, or activity. It is a formal term used in academic, legal, and business contexts to describe the result of a financial transaction or fundraising effort.

individual

C1

Relating to a single person or thing as distinct from a group. It describes something that is intended for, or used by, one person rather than a collective entity.

appropriately

B2

To perform an action in a manner that is suitable, right, or proper for a particular situation, person, or occasion. It implies following specific social norms, professional standards, or logical requirements.

region

B2

A region is an area of land that has common features, such as geography, climate, or culture, which distinguish it from other areas. It can refer to a large part of a country or the world and is often used in administrative or scientific contexts to organize space.

resource

B2

A stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively. In academic and informational contexts, it refers to a source of information or expertise used to support research or learning.

hypothesis

B1

A hypothesis is a tentative statement or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence. it serves as a starting point for further investigation and must be testable through scientific methods.

ozone

B2

Ozone is a colorless gas found in the upper atmosphere that protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. It is also produced at ground level as a pollutant when sunlight reacts with industrial emissions.

layer

B2

A layer is a single thickness, sheet, or level of a material that covers a surface or is placed between other things. It can refer to physical substances like paint and geological strata, or abstract levels of complexity and meaning.

around

C2

As an adverb at a C2 level, it denotes presence, availability, or existence within a specific vicinity or context. It is also used to indicate approximate values or to describe movement or positioning that encircles a point or lacks a specific direction.

climate

B2

Climate refers to the long-term patterns of weather conditions, such as temperature and rainfall, in a particular region over many years. It can also describe the prevailing mood, conditions, or social atmosphere of a specific time or place.

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