Phrasal verb
sell off
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
sell off
Past
sold off
Past participle
sold off
Definition
phrasal verb. to sell things quickly or at a low price, often because you need money or want to get rid of them.
phrasal verb. to dispose of assets, stock, or property by selling them, often at reduced prices or in a hurried manner. This transitive verb is frequently used in commercial or financial contexts to describe the liquidation of holdings.
Examples
“The shop is selling off its old stock before the new season.”
“After the company went bankrupt, the liquidators had to sell off all the office furniture and equipment to pay the debts.”
“The government's decision to sell off state-owned energy assets sparked a heated debate regarding the long-term implications for national energy security and consumer pricing.”
Examples
simple
“The shop is selling off its old stock before the new season.”
contextual
“After the company went bankrupt, the liquidators had to sell off all the office furniture and equipment to pay the debts.”
complex
“The government's decision to sell off state-owned energy assets sparked a heated debate regarding the long-term implications for national energy security and consumer pricing.”
Usage
This phrasal verb is transitive and allows the object to be placed either after the particle or between the verb and particle.
Teaching tip
Contrast with 'sell out' to help students understand that 'sell off' implies a deliberate choice to dispose of something rather than simply running out of stock.
Pitfall
The company decided to sell off of its assets.
The company decided to sell off its assets.
Learners often incorrectly add 'of' after 'off' by confusing the phrase with the construction of 'dispose of'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
off
Separability
optional
Pattern
sell + off + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
PHRASAL VERB
Grammar
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/sell-off