sell
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 5I sell fresh bread at the bakery every morning.
I sell fresh bread at the bakery every morning.
The corporation intends to sell its subsidiary to a private equity firm.
The corporation intends to sell its subsidiary to a private equity firm.
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
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
I sell fresh bread at the bakery every morning.
everydayI sell fresh bread at the bakery every morning.
The corporation intends to sell its subsidiary to a private equity firm.
formalThe corporation intends to sell its subsidiary to a private equity firm.
Are you going to sell your old video games on the internet?
informalAre you going to sell your old video games on the internet?
Supply and demand curves illustrate the price at which producers are willing to sell.
academicSupply and demand curves illustrate the price at which producers are willing to sell.
Our primary goal this month is to sell more units than our competitors.
businessOur primary goal this month is to sell more units than our competitors.
Word Family
Common Collocations
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
Sale is a noun (The sale is over), while sell is a verb (I want to sell this).
Sail refers to traveling on water in a boat; it sounds the same as 'sale' but is different from 'sell'.
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.'
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.'
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
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 Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
A market is a specific place where people gather to buy and...
customerA customer is a person or organization that buys goods or se...
priceThe price is the specific amount of money you must pay to pu...
moneyMoney consists of coins and banknotes used to pay for goods,...
merchandiseMerchandise refers to goods or products that are bought and...
productA product is something that is made, grown, or created to be...
Related Words
proceed
C1The 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
C1Relating 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
B2To 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
B2A 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
B2A 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
B1A 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
B2Ozone 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
B2A 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
C2As 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
B2Climate 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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