: an item of merchandise (such as an automobile or refrigerator) taken as payment or part payment for a purchase
traded in; trading in; trades in
1
: to turn in as payment or part payment for a purchase or bill
trade the old car in on a new one
2
Examples of trade-in in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
Apple, for example, offers a credit toward a future purchase if your trade-in is current enough.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
Joe Vardon, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
As a result, many will be trading in their caps for a crash course in health care, student loans and cash flow.
—Annie Nova, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trade-in
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Noun
Also, 27% of these trade-ins carried $10,000 or more in negative equity, also a record high.
—Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
Apple, for example, offers a credit toward a future purchase if your trade-in is current enough.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
James Harden made one request upon joining the Cleveland Cavaliers after the big trade in February.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
As a result, many will be trading in their caps for a crash course in health care, student loans and cash flow.
—Annie Nova, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trade-in
Cite this Entry
“Trade-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade-in. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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