to auction
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to auction
To offer something publicly for sale as part of an auction, where the person who makes the highest bid wins the item.
Das berühmte Gemälde wurde für über zehn Millionen Euro versteigert.
The famous painting was auctioned for over ten million euros.
'Versteigern' (to auction) is an inseparable verb. It is derived from 'steigern' (to increase), since bids are increased during an auction. The prefix 'ver-' signals a process that leads to a result, similar to 'verkaufen' (to sell).
Der Auktionator versucht, den Preis weiter zu steigern, bevor er das Bild versteigert.
The auctioneer tries to raise the price further before auctioning the painting.
This verb is very often used in the passive to emphasize what is being auctioned, rather than who is conducting the auction. The typical form is 'etwas wird/wurde versteigert' (something is/was auctioned).
Das alte Haus meiner Großeltern wird nächste Woche versteigert.
My grandparents' old house will be auctioned next week.
To state the price, you use the preposition 'für' (for): 'für 100 Euro versteigern' (to auction for 100 euros). To name the buyer, you use 'an' (to): 'an den Höchstbietenden versteigern' (to auction to the highest bidder).
Das Auto wurde für einen überraschend hohen Preis versteigert.
The car was auctioned for a surprisingly high price.
to sell
Verkaufen and versteigern both refer to selling something for money. Versteigern is the more specific choice when several people bid publicly and the item is awarded to the highest bidder. Without this procedure, verkaufen is normally used; at an auction, both words are possible, but versteigern is more precise.
Die Familie versteigerte das alte Bild öffentlich, und der Höchstbietende bekam den Zuschlag.
The family auctioned off the old painting publicly, and the highest bidder won it.
Die Familie verkaufte das alte Bild an eine interessierte Käuferin.
The family sold the old painting to an interested buyer.
