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

Example Sentences

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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Billionaire Tyler Perry and Byron Allen are competing to purchase a majority stake in BET Media Group from Paramount Global. Rodney Ho, ajc, 7 Mar. 2023 Kratom is cheap to purchase and profitable to sell. Helen Freund And Kirby Wilson, Sun Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2023 An unknown offender got access to her computer and advised her to purchase gift cards. Graydon Megan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2023 Aurora is available both to stream (on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music) and in a limited-edition Orange vinyl for fans to purchase and spin at home like the good old days. Evan Romano, Men's Health, 4 Mar. 2023 Migration investment programs allow people to purchase citizenship or residency in exchange for an investment in a country. Seth Onyango, Quartz, 3 Mar. 2023 This rapper is bringing a music fest to Yuma How to get tickets to Dream Master Mixtape in Yuma A three-day ticket is $120, on sale Monday, March 6. Mega Ran and Red Moon will both drop a link on Instagram to purchase tickets on Monday, March 6. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 3 Mar. 2023 At the corporate level, the contract gives Kakao and Kakao Entertainment the pre-emptive right to purchase new shares in SM. Patrick Frater, Variety, 2 Mar. 2023 Novavax and Gavi are heading to arbitration over Gavi’s decision not to purchase Novavax’s vaccine last year, the company said. Christopher Rowland, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Mar. 2023
Noun
Theft The owner of a wallet which was either lost or stolen in Chick-fil-A, 235 S. Route 83, over the lunch hour on March 9 soon discovered her credit cards were used for a purchase. Graydon Megan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2023 The Pink Pony The venue is celebrating 75 years with a new special logo on staff uniforms, and pint glasses, plus additional items available for purchase in-store or online. Chandra Fleming, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2023 State Program Open Space funds were used for the purchase. Kevin Dayhoff, Baltimore Sun, 17 Mar. 2023 Those kits will also be available for purchase via the NTWRK app for 24 hours beginning April 7 at 5 p.m. ET. Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2023 Beer is available for purchase at booths along East Market Street. Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 16 Mar. 2023 Friend of the Festival packages (advance ticket packages), which include reservations for indoor conversations, weekend parking and festival merchandise, among other exclusives, are available for purchase now. Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2023 Embrace Your Space: Organizing Ideas and Stylish Upgrades for Every Room on Any Budget by Katie Holdefehr (with photography by Genevieve Garruppo) is available for purchase starting March 14, 2023. Lauren Phillips, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2023 The book is currently available for purchase on Amazon. Angelica Stabile, Fox News, 13 Mar. 2023 See More

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 31 Mar. 2023.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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