# auction

/ˈɑkʃən/ (US) · /ˈɔːkʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/auction
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. public sale

noun · CEFR B2

a public event where things are sold to the person who offers the highest price.

For teachers: a public sale of goods or property where prospective buyers make successive bids, with the item being sold to the highest bidder.

- The family decided to sell their old furniture at a local auction.
- The rare manuscript was sold at a prestigious London auction for three times its estimated value after a fierce bidding war between two collectors.

### 2. card games

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the part of a card game where players bid to decide the rules for that round.

For teachers: the preliminary stage of a hand in games like bridge, during which players bid to determine the final contract and trump suit.

- During the auction, my partner signaled that she had a strong hand of hearts.
- The auction concluded with a bold four-spade bid, leaving the opposing pair to reconsider their defensive strategy for the opening lead.

### 3. to sell by bidding

verb · CEFR B2

to sell something at an auction.

For teachers: to sell something by means of an auction; often used with 'off'.

- The city will auction the seized cars next Tuesday morning.
- The government plans to auction off the remaining spectrum rights to telecommunications companies to help fund the new infrastructure project.

Usage: Often used as the phrasal verb 'auction off'.

## Examples

- I bought this old clock at an auction.
- The local gallery is holding an auction to raise money for the new children's art program.
- While some collectors prefer private sales, others enjoy the competitive atmosphere of a live auction where rare items can reach prices far beyond their initial estimates.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.