purchase

1 of 2

verb

pur·​chase ˈpər-chəs How to pronounce purchase (audio)
purchased; purchasing

transitive verb

1
a
: to obtain by paying money or its equivalent : buy
b
: to acquire (real estate) by means other than descent
c
: to obtain by labor, danger, or sacrifice
d
archaic : gain, acquire
2
: to constitute the means for buying
Our dollars purchase less each year.

intransitive verb

: to purchase something
purchasable adjective
purchaser noun

purchase

2 of 2

noun

1
: an act or instance of purchasing
2
: something obtained especially for a price in money or its equivalent
3
a(1)
: an advantage (such as a firm hold or position) used in applying one's power
clutching the steering wheel for more purchaseBarry Crump
(2)
: a means of exerting power
b(1)
: a mechanical hold or advantage applied to the raising or moving of heavy bodies
(2)
: an apparatus or device by which advantage is gained

Examples of purchase in a Sentence

Verb He purchased a new suit for a hundred dollars. I need to purchase a new heavy coat. Noun The CD player is guaranteed for one year from the date of purchase. The car was an expensive purchase. He displayed his recent purchases with pride. The ice made it impossible for the car's wheels to gain a purchase on the road. The surface was so slick that the wheels couldn't gain purchase.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The New Yorker may earn a portion of sales from products and services that are purchased through links on our site as part of our affiliate partnerships with retailers. Adam Douglas Thompson, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2024 Jurors also saw videos of the shooter firing guns at a range, including a visit with his mother to a range on Nov. 27, 2021, to shoot the 9mm purchased during the Black Friday shopping trip with his dad. Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 12 Mar. 2024 The couple purchased their 1962 Mar Vista home in 1999 for $360,000 when their two children, now 26 and 29, were young. Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024 Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2024 The latest controversy is whether the food purchased by its recipients should be restricted to healthier diets that exclude snacks and sodas. Vance Ginn, National Review, 11 Mar. 2024 Users had until March 5 to pre-register to buy shares in the listing; those who did will have the chance to opt out of purchasing shares now that they have been priced. Clare Duffy, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Georgia Day, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024 Those users had until March 5 to indicate their interest in purchasing stock at the same price as institutional investors, the far more usual buyers of newly public shares. Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024
Noun
Meanwhile, $100 bills are increasingly awkward to use—many economists favor eliminating them entirely—and in 2021, consumers used credit cards for 57% of purchases, according to the Federal Reserve. María Soledad Davila Calero, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 The Hoffmann family has a presence in 27 different countries, including Europe, China, Latin America and South America, Hoffmann told the Free Press at the time of the purchase. Detroit Free Press, 12 Mar. 2024 These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2024 Just make sure to scribble the date of purchase on the jar with a Sharpie, and aim to use it within 1–2 years. Carly Westerfield, Bon Appétit, 9 Mar. 2024 Harvey Nichols Special Edition Barbie (1995): Only available for purchase in England, the doll was a limited-edition model for the British store Harvey Nichols. Marina Johnson, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Mar. 2024 Then it can be considered expired three years after the date of purchase. Audrey Noble, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2024 The other bills signed by Inslee last year included one banning the sale of certain semi-automatic rifles and another imposing a 10-day waiting period on firearms purchases. Gene Johnson, Quartz, 9 Mar. 2024 Records include details on pub owners, such as their names, addresses, and dates of purchase. Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'purchase.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English purchacen, from Anglo-French purchacer to strive for, obtain, from por-, pur- thoroughly, to a conclusion (from Latin pro- forward, for) + chacer to pursue, chase — more at pro-

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1d

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of purchase was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near purchase

Cite this Entry

“Purchase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purchase. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

purchase

1 of 2 verb
pur·​chase ˈpər-chəs How to pronounce purchase (audio)
purchased; purchasing
: to get by paying money for : buy
purchase a house
purchasable adjective
purchaser noun

purchase

2 of 2 noun
1
: an act or instance of purchasing
2
: something purchased
3
: a secure hold, grasp, or place to stand
could not get a purchase on the ledge

Legal Definition

purchase

1 of 2 verb
pur·​chase
purchased; purchasing

transitive verb

1
: to acquire (real property) by means other than descent or inheritance
2
: to obtain by paying money or giving other valuable consideration
specifically : to take (property) by a voluntary transaction (as a sale, mortgage, pledge, lien, or gift) that creates an interest and that is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code see also bona fide purchaser

intransitive verb

: to purchase something
purchasable adjective
purchaser noun

purchase

2 of 2 noun
: an act or instance of purchasing: as
a
: the acquiring of real property by any means other than descent or inheritance
b
: the acquiring of an interest in property especially in exchange for valuable consideration see also word of purchase

More from Merriam-Webster on purchase

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