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 to make some money. [sell: verb]
Example
The salesman was able to sell me on the idea of buying the more expensive product. [sell: phrasal verb]
Example
The store sells a variety of products, from clothing to electronics. [sells: present tense]
vend
Example
The street vendor was vending hot dogs and pretzels. [vending: gerund or present participle]
Example
I bought a soda from the vending machine. [vending: verb]
Example
The company vends its products through authorized dealers only. [vends: present tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sell is more commonly used than vend in everyday language. Sell is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while vend is less common and more formal.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between sell and vend?
Vend is more formal and less common than sell. It is typically used in official or commercial contexts, while sell can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
