purchase

1 of 2

verb

pur·​chase ˈpər-chəs 

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

ˈpər-chə-sə-bəl 

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 purchase

—Barry 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

Synonyms

Verb

• buy
• cop [slang]
• pick up
• take

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.

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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

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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

Phrases Containing purchase

• hire purchase
• point-of-purchase
• purchase order
• purchase price
• proof of purchase
• pre-purchase

• hire purchase
• point-of-purchase
• purchase order
• purchase price
• proof of purchase
• pre-purchase

Kids Definition

purchase

1 of 2 verb

pur·​chase ˈpər-chəs 

purchased; purchasing

: to get by paying money for : buy

purchase a house

purchasable

-chə-sə-bəl 

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