What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
sell
Example
I need to sell my old car before I can buy a new one. [sell: verb]
Example
The salesman was trying to sell me a new phone. [sell: verb]
Example
He sold his business to a larger corporation. [sold: past tense]
trade
Example
I traded my old bike for a new skateboard. [traded: past tense]
Example
The two countries agreed to trade goods without using currency. [trade: verb]
Example
He works in finance and trades stocks on the stock market. [trades: present tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sell is more commonly used than trade in everyday language. Sell is a versatile word that covers a wide range of contexts, while trade is less common and often used in specific situations such as bartering or financial markets.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between sell and trade?
Both sell and trade can be used in formal and informal contexts, but sell is generally more versatile and can be used in a wider range of situations.
