sold
sold — verb
1. the form of the verb 'sell' that shows the action of exchanging a product or ser
the form of the verb 'sell' that shows the action of exchanging a product or service for money took place before now — for example, when a shop gave goods to a customer after receiving payment at an earlier time.
Stephanie sold her old laptop to a university student for two hundred dollars.
sold + object + to [person] + for [price]
The house on Maple Street was sold for much more than the asking price.
passive: be sold + for [price]
When Heloísa asked about tickets, the band had already sold every one.
past perfect: had already sold
Nikhil sold forty boxes of cookies for the school fundraiser last spring.
- sold for [price]
- sold to [person]
- sold at [location]
- sold [+ object]
Grammar Patterns
sold + object + for/at/to
have/has/had sold + object
be sold + for [price]
Usage Note
This sense covers only the grammatical past forms of 'sell' (simple past and past participle). When used in perfect tenses (has sold, had sold), it functions as a past participle. In simple descriptions of a past event, it works as the past tense. Do not confuse this with the adjective-like uses in senses 2, 3, and 4, where 'sold' describes a state of enthusiasm or unavailability.
Common Mistakes
2. feeling strongly that a particular idea, plan, or product is good, right, or wor
feeling strongly that a particular idea, plan, or product is good, right, or worth supporting — used when someone becomes convinced or excited, often after initial doubt.
Tendai was sold on the new software after seeing how much time it saved.
be sold on [something]: convinced about
Faisal is not sold on moving to a colder city with higher rent.
not sold on: not yet convinced
The investors were completely sold after the founder showed them the working prototype.
Sivan became sold on the fitness programme after just two weeks of training.
- sold on [idea/plan/product]
- not sold on
- completely sold on
- immediately sold on
- unconvinced
neutral doubt; not yet persuaded but open to more information
- skeptical
more negative than unconvinced; actively doubtful about the thing
Grammar Patterns
be sold on [something]
not sold on [something]
completely sold on [something]
Usage Note
Used only as a predicative adjective after 'be' or 'become'. It cannot appear before a noun: ❌ 'a sold customer' → ✅ 'the customer was sold'. The preposition 'on' is required before the thing that excites or convinces the person.
Common Mistakes
3. describing a situation where every seat or ticket for an event such as a concert
describing a situation where every seat or ticket for an event such as a concert, film, play, or sports match has been purchased and none remain available to buy.
The concert was sold out within an hour of tickets going on sale online.
be sold out: no tickets remaining
Noor checked every ticket website, but all shows were completely sold out for the weekend.
completely sold out
Every screening of the new film is already sold out across the entire city.
The Broadway musical has been sold out for months since it opened in March.
- sold out
- completely sold out
- already sold out
- sold out concert/show
- booked up
used for restaurants, hotels, or appointments rather than ticketed events
- sold out show
used as a noun phrase: 'The concert was a sold-out show' before a noun
Grammar Patterns
be sold out
be completely/totally sold out
Usage Note
This sense applies only to events that require tickets. Do not add 'of' after 'sold out': ❌ 'The concert is sold out of tickets' → ✅ 'The concert is sold out.' For shops that have no stock of a product, use sense 4 (sold out of).
Common Mistakes
4. having none of a particular product or item left to sell because every unit has
having none of a particular product or item left to sell because every unit has already been bought by customers — used about shops, warehouses, or suppliers.
The bakery was sold out of croissants by nine o'clock in the morning.
be sold out of [item]: no stock left
Tamás ordered the running shoes, but the warehouse was sold out of his size.
sold out of [size/variant]
The pharmacy was sold out of cold medicine after the flu outbreak hit the town.
Hoa needed eggs for the cake, but the corner shop was sold out of them.
- sold out of [item]
- sold out of [size/variant]
- already sold out of
- out of stock
more formal than 'sold out of'; commonly used in retail and online shopping contexts
- run out of
focuses on the moment supplies ended; 'We ran out of milk' instead of 'We are sold out of milk'
Grammar Patterns
be sold out of [item]
be sold out of [size/variant]
Usage Note
Always followed by 'of' and the specific item that is unavailable. Unlike sense 3, which describes an event with no tickets left, this sense describes a shop or supplier that has run out of a particular product. If both event tickets AND a product item are gone, test with 'sold out of': if it makes sense after 'of', use sense 4; if not, use sense 3.
Common Mistakes
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/2
'Sold on', 'convinced', 'keen on', and 'won over' all describe a positive attitude toward an idea or plan, but they differ in tone and emphasis. 'Sold on' suggests emotional enthusiasm that feels like a final decision — you are fully on board, often after excitement rather than logic. 'Convinced' is more rational: evidence or arguments have removed doubt. 'Keen on' (common in British English) expresses strong interest without the sense of final commitment that 'sold on' carries. 'Won over' describes a change of mind where initial resistance was overcome through persuasion. For example: 'I'm sold on the plan' (enthusiastic commitment) contrasts with 'I'm convinced by the data' (logical certainty) and 'I'm keen on the idea' (positive interest without full commitment) and 'She won me over with her arguments' (overcame my earlier doubts).