B2nounmoneybusiness
US/ˈɔːk.ʃən/
UK/ˈɔːk.ʃən/
a public sale where things go to the person who offers the most money
In context
The painting was sold at auction for two million dollars.
We went to an auction and bought an old wooden table.
The charity held an auction to raise money for the school.
Words that go with auction
verb + preposition
- sell at auctionThey sold the house at auction.
- go to auctionThe land will go to auction next month.
verb + noun
- hold an auctionThe museum will hold an auction in May.
adjective + noun
- online auctionI bought the watch in an online auction.
noun + noun
- charity auctionThe charity auction raised thousands of dollars.
- auction houseThe auction house valued the vase highly.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
I bought it in the auction online.Correct: I bought it at an online auction.