German word

versteigern

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈʃtaɪ̯gɐn/

Meaning

  • verbauction off

Example

Das alte Fahrrad wird morgen versteigert.

The old bicycle will be auctioned off tomorrow.

Illustration for versteigern (auction off)

More examples

Er hat das alte Radio online versteigert, weil er Platz brauchte.

He auctioned off the old radio online because he needed space.

Core concept

An item moves through rising public bids until the highest bidder takes it.

Common phrases

  • ein Erbstück versteigern

    auction off an heirloom

  • ein Motorrad versteigern

    auction off a motorcycle

  • etwas online versteigern

    auction something online

Similar words

verkaufen: Exchange goods or property for payment by transferring them to another party.
ersteigern: Buy an item at auction by winning the bidding.

Definition in German

etwas durch eine öffentliche Versteigerung an den Meistbietenden verkaufen

Word origin

Versteigern combines the prefix ver- with steigern, meaning to increase, and refers to selling something through rising bids.

Usage tips

  • Versteigern takes the item as an accusative object, as in etwas versteigern, while the buyer uses ersteigern for obtaining it at auction.

Opposites

  • zurückbehaltenretainverb

Related words

  • Versteigerungsplattformauction platformnoun
  • Versteigerungsgebührauction feenoun

Word lists with this word