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Definition of auction

auction

/ˈɑːk.ʃən/
auc · tion
Plural:auctions
•
Past Simple:auctioned
•
Past Participle:auctioned
•
Present Participle:auctioning
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auction Lexical Profile

auction Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A public or online sale in which goods or property are sold to the highest bidder.

Example

"The rare nineteenth-century painting fetched over two million dollars at the charity auction."

2

The period of bidding in bridge and certain other card games during which players compete to name the contract.

Example

"After a competitive auction, North-South won the contract at four spades."

Synonyms
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• verb

1

To sell goods or property publicly to the highest bidder (often followed by 'off').

Example

"The family decided to auction the antique furniture to settle the estate."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for auction

• Nearby Words

aubrieta
auburn
auckland
auction
auctioneer
auctioneering
audacious

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 16th century from Latin 'auctio', meaning 'an increasing' or 'a sale by increasing bids', from the verb 'augere' ('to increase').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Auction. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/auction
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