sold out

Meaning

This expression is used to describe an event, show, or product for which all available tickets or items have been purchased. It indicates that nothing is left to buy, reflecting high demand.

Examples

• I wanted to buy tickets for the concert, but they were already sold out.

  I wanted to buy tickets for the concert, but they were already sold out.

• The theater put up a 'sold out' sign outside the main entrance.

  The theater put up a 'sold out' sign outside the main entrance.

• Within five minutes of going online, the festival was completely sold out.

  Within five minutes of going online, the festival was completely sold out.

• Is the comedy show sold out, or can we still get tickets at the door?

  Is the comedy show sold out, or can we still get tickets at the door?

• The new game console was sold out everywhere on its release day.

  The new game console was sold out everywhere on its release day.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The concert is selling outed.

  ✓ The concert is sold out.

  'Sold' is already the past participle of 'sell'. We use 'is sold out' as an adjective phrase; do not add regular past tense endings to it.

• ✗ All tickets are sold outed.

  ✓ All tickets are sold out.

  Do not add '-ed' to 'sold'. 'Sold' is an irregular form and is already correct on its own.

Related Expressions

Practice

• We were disappointed to find that the movie was ___.

  💡 All tickets were bought.

  Show answer

  sold out

• The band announced a second show because the first one ___ so quickly.

  💡 Past tense of sell out.

  Show answer

  sold out