sold

/səʊld/ (bre, ipa) · /soʊld/ (ame, ipa)

sold — verb

  • soldpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • solds3rd person singular
  • solding-ing form
  • soldedpast simple

1. the form of the verb 'sell' that shows the action of exchanging a product or ser

1.動詞及物 / 不及物A1
釋義

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.

例句

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]

文法句型

sold + object + for/at/to

have/has/had sold + object

be sold + for [price]

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

I have sell my old phone yesterday.
I sold my old phone yesterday.
💡'sell' is the base form and cannot describe a completed past action; use 'sold' instead.
I was sold my bicycle to a neighbour.
I sold my bicycle to a neighbour.
💡in active voice, no auxiliary verb is needed before 'sold'.

2. feeling strongly that a particular idea, plan, or product is good, right, or wor

2.動詞B1
釋義

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.

例句

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

同義詞
  • convinced

    more rational and logical; implies evidence removed doubt rather than emotional enthusiasm

  • won over

    emphasises that initial resistance was overcome before agreeing

  • keen on

    British English; expresses strong interest but less forceful commitment than 'sold on'

反義詞
  • unconvinced

    neutral doubt; not yet persuaded but open to more information

  • skeptical

    more negative than unconvinced; actively doubtful about the thing

文法句型

be sold on [something]

not sold on [something]

completely sold on [something]

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

I am very sold about joining the club.
I am sold on joining the club.
💡use 'on', not 'about', to introduce what excites you.
She is a sold fan of the band.
She is sold on the band.
💡the adjective 'sold' only works after a linking verb, not before a noun.

3. describing a situation where every seat or ticket for an event such as a concert

3.動詞A2
釋義

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.

例句

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

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞

文法句型

be sold out

be completely/totally sold out

用法筆記

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).

常見錯誤

The show is sold out of tickets.
The show is sold out.
💡for events, 'sold out' already implies tickets; do not add 'of tickets'.
The restaurant was sold out.
The restaurant was fully booked.
💡'sold out' is for ticketed events, not restaurant tables.

4. having none of a particular product or item left to sell because every unit has

4.動詞A2
釋義

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.

例句

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]

同義詞
  • 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'

反義詞
  • in stock

    available to buy; opposite of having no stock left

  • available

    can be purchased now

文法句型

be sold out of [item]

be sold out of [size/variant]

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

The store is sold out the winter jackets.
The store is sold out of winter jackets.
💡the preposition 'of' is mandatory before the missing item.
We are sold out of the concert.
The concert is sold out.
💡'of' after 'sold out' only works for products in a shop, not for event tickets.