sell
- 01 A1 Beginner
v.to give something to someone who gives you money for it.
v.to transfer ownership of goods or provide services in exchange for money. Transitive or ditransitive.
Simple“They decided to sell their old car before moving to the city.”
In context“The company plans to sell its remaining shares to a private equity firm by the end of the fiscal year.”
PitfallI sold to him my car. I sold him my car.When using two objects, the person usually comes first without 'to', or you can say 'sold my car to him'.
- 02 A2 Elementary
v.to be bought by people in large numbers.
v.to be purchased or to find a market; often used to describe the popularity or rate of a product's sale.
Simple“His new book is selling very well in shops across the country.”
In context“Despite the high price point, the limited edition sneakers sold out within minutes of their online release.”
Synonymsmoveretail for - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to persuade someone that an idea or plan is good.
v.to promote or persuade someone to accept a particular viewpoint, idea, or plan.
Simple“She tried to sell the idea of a four-day work week to her boss.”
In context“The marketing director struggled to sell the board on the radical rebranding strategy, citing concerns over existing customer loyalty.”
Antonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
v.to hurt someone who trusts you for your own gain.
v.to betray a person, country, or cause for money or personal advantage.
Simple“The spy was caught trying to sell secrets to the enemy.”
In context“History remembers him as the man who sold his country for a title and a small estate in the north.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
v.to make a big mistake that causes your team to lose.
v.to perform poorly or make a critical error that results in a loss for one's own team.
Simple“I can't believe he missed that shot; he's totally selling.”
In context“The goalkeeper was accused of selling after he let a slow ball roll between his legs in the final minute.”
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the way someone tries to persuade you to buy or accept something.
n.the act or method of promoting an idea or product; often qualified by 'hard' or 'soft'.
Simple“The salesman used a hard sell to get us to sign the contract.”
In context“Convincing the residents to accept the new highway was a difficult sell for the local government.”
- 07 C2 Proficiency
n.a trick or something that is not as good as you expected.
n.an imposition, cheat, or disappointment; something that is a hoax.
Simple“We went all that way to see the show, but it was a complete sell.”
In context“The promised grand opening turned out to be a bit of a sell, as half the exhibits were still under construction.”
Usage sell more copies · sell product