1 B2 neutral
To sell one's entire business, home, or possessions, usually in order to retire, relocate, or cease operations.
"After thirty years in the trade, he decided to sell up and retire to Portugal."
inseparable
sell up
B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
To sell your entire business, property, or possessions — typically to stop operating or to move on to something else.
In plain English
To sell everything you own — like your house or business — usually because you are moving or stopping what you do.
What does "sell up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
To sell all assets of a company in order to pay off debts or close the business.
"With debts mounting, the owners had no choice but to sell up."
inseparable
Usage tip
Common in British English. Implies a total, final sale rather than a partial one. Often used when someone is retiring, relocating, or facing financial difficulties. Can also be used transitively: 'they sold up their farm'.
Words that pair with "sell up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
business farm property house shop everything
How to conjugate "sell up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
sell up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sells up
he/she/it
Past simple
sold up
yesterday
Past participle
sold up
have + pp
-ing form
selling up
continuous
Hear "sell up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "sell up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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