# sell off

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sell-off
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to sell things quickly or at a low price, often because you need money or want to get rid of them.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The company decided to sell off of its assets." but "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'.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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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.