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Glite Dictionary
🏷️ To run out 💸 To betray values
to sell out

to sell out

55 6.8
To give up your beliefs for money or personal gain
  • phrasal verb
  • /sɛl aʊt/
  • Informal
translation icon : venderse
  • We said we'd never sell out.

After all, that would be selling out and needy and evil.

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Examples

  • He decided not to sell out his values just for a higher salary.

  • Almost as much of a mistake as selling out your fans.

  • To walk away would have meant selling out.

    Collapse (2012)

  • Maybe I ought to just give up and sell out to them.

    The Proud Rebel (1958)

  • Sure, it's your right to sell out, but is it the right thing to do?

    Blog text (11)

  • How, how much can you resist the need to sell out, right?

  • Don't be so quick to sell out your brother, kid.

    Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005)

  • I'll never sell out.

    That's My Boy (2012)

  • So I applaud those who stay true to the evidence and don't sell out as people often say.

    Chris Williamson

  • Many artists feel pressured to sell out rather than stay true to their vision.

Synonyms

to sell
vsto sell out
  • Informal
642 7.9

To betray someone for personal gain

is focused on abandoning principles or integrity specifically for personal gain
to sell someone out
vsto sell out
  • Informal
109 5.9

Betray someone by telling their secrets to others for personal gain

is about abandoning principles or ideals for personal advantage rather than betraying people
to sell down the river
vsto sell out
  • Informal
12 8.8

To betray someone to get something for yourself

is concerned with abandoning integrity or ideals for personal gain rather than betraying people
to whore oneself out
vsto sell out
  • Offensive
2 9.9

To give up your values for money or fame

is abandoning principles for personal gain without the strong degrading publicity emphasis
to sell one's soul
vsto sell out
  • Informal
8.3

Act badly to get money, power, or success

is a general betrayal of principles rather than a total moral sacrifice
to sell your birthright for a mess of pottage
vsto sell out
9.9

To give up something very important for a small, quick gain

is about abandoning principles or integrity for personal gain rather than trading valuables foolishly
to sell your birthright
vsto sell out
8.2

To give up something very important for little or no value

is about betraying principles or integrity for gain rather than giving up valuables

Antonyms

true to
31 3.2

Faithful and loyal to your partner by not having sex with other people

How Principled

to compromise
215 3.7
to sell out
  • Informal
55 6.8
to betray
143 4.6

Surface Forms

sell out infinitive
sold out past
sold out past participle
selling out present participle
sells out third person singular

Morphology

sell + out

The meaning 'to sell all available goods' is directly derivable from combining 'sell' (transfer ownership) with 'out' (indicating completion or depletion); here 'out' signals that nothing remains. This verb+particle composition is a common, literal pattern in English and would be predictable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Sell out may come from the simple picture of someone selling their own beliefs—putting values out for sale like any object. That's why it now means 'to betray your principles' for money or advantage.