purchased; purchasing
1
2
: to constitute the means for buying
Our dollars purchase less each year.
: to purchase something
purchaser
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
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
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.
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Recent Examples on the WebFlor Tolentino, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2023
The album was initially released to purchase as a digital download album on Sept. 4, followed by its CD release on Sept. 8.
—Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 21 Sep. 2023
Related: Eva Mendes on Parenthood, Her New Sponge Line and That Bluey Cameo
Tickets are $36 per person for guests ages 2 and up and can be purchased online at Camp.com
After her LA visit, Bluey and her family will head to another Camp location to be announced at a later date.
—Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Sep. 2023
The hotel has been a carbon-neutral facility since 2019 and has committed to environmentally friendly practices like recycling, purchasing products with a low environmental impact, and using toxic-free cleaning products.
—Meena Thiruvengadam, Travel + Leisure, 21 Sep. 2023
Tom Brady Says Retirement Is a ‘Chance to Really Sit Back and Watch and Learn a Different Career’
Another factor Welter thinks pushed Brady to purchase stake in the team?
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2023
In 2013, Complete Genomics, a San Jose company and a U.S. leader in gene-sequencing technology, was purchased for $118 million by BGI Group, a Chinese company formerly called Beijing Genomics Institute.
—Cate Brown, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023
Everyone else can enjoy the seasonal treat by purchasing it at retail.
—cleveland, 13 Sep. 2023
Such trusts purchase land and lease it to a developer or individual, who owns the actual building for a lower price.
—Teo Armus, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2023
Michele Lerner, Washington Post, 22 Sep. 2023
Some ads pair sponsors with movie recommendations, and others allow subscribers to make quick e-commerce purchases.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 22 Sep. 2023
While at Centerview, Handler worked closely with Cisco for several years and advised on numerous deals, including Cisco’s $5 billion acquisition of NDS Group in 2012 and Cisco’s $3.7 billion purchase of AppDynamics in 2017.
—Reuters, CNN, 21 Sep. 2023
However, note that some cheaper options may require additional purchases, such as mop pad refills.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2023
Hedge fund billionaire John Paulson used a sham purchase of a luxury penthouse apartment in Puerto Rico to improperly enrich himself by $10 million at the expense of his family trust, his wife claims in a suit accusing him of hiding billions of dollars in assets during their divorce.
—Chris Dolmetsch, Fortune, 21 Sep. 2023
The California Department of Justice monitors individuals who legally purchase firearms under the Armed and Prohibited Persons System, a statewide database that cross-references purchases against other records.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2023
From record-breaking numbers entering their lounges in 2022, the airline’s fees for the annual Sky Club memberships increased from $545 to $695 from the start of 2023, and have only been available for purchase by Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and Silver Medallion members.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Sep. 2023
The claim that generates the most purchase among the more sober skeptics of Ukraine’s cause is that supporting Kyiv’s efforts to degrade Russia’s capacity to project power across its borders comes at the unacceptable cost of deterring Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.
—The Editors, National Review, 20 Sep. 2023
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Verb
The piñatas stamps are being sold in booklets of 20 by USPS and can be purchased online or at any postal store across the country.
—Flor Tolentino, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2023
The album was initially released to purchase as a digital download album on Sept. 4, followed by its CD release on Sept. 8.
—Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 21 Sep. 2023
Related: Eva Mendes on Parenthood, Her New Sponge Line and That Bluey Cameo
Tickets are $36 per person for guests ages 2 and up and can be purchased online at Camp.com
After her LA visit, Bluey and her family will head to another Camp location to be announced at a later date.
—Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Sep. 2023
The hotel has been a carbon-neutral facility since 2019 and has committed to environmentally friendly practices like recycling, purchasing products with a low environmental impact, and using toxic-free cleaning products.
—Meena Thiruvengadam, Travel + Leisure, 21 Sep. 2023
Tom Brady Says Retirement Is a ‘Chance to Really Sit Back and Watch and Learn a Different Career’
Another factor Welter thinks pushed Brady to purchase stake in the team?
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2023
In 2013, Complete Genomics, a San Jose company and a U.S. leader in gene-sequencing technology, was purchased for $118 million by BGI Group, a Chinese company formerly called Beijing Genomics Institute.
—Cate Brown, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023
Everyone else can enjoy the seasonal treat by purchasing it at retail.
—cleveland, 13 Sep. 2023
Such trusts purchase land and lease it to a developer or individual, who owns the actual building for a lower price.
—Teo Armus, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2023
Noun
Buyers who meet income and credit qualifications can finance the purchase of a house and its renovation with a single loan backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
—Michele Lerner, Washington Post, 22 Sep. 2023
Some ads pair sponsors with movie recommendations, and others allow subscribers to make quick e-commerce purchases.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 22 Sep. 2023
While at Centerview, Handler worked closely with Cisco for several years and advised on numerous deals, including Cisco’s $5 billion acquisition of NDS Group in 2012 and Cisco’s $3.7 billion purchase of AppDynamics in 2017.
—Reuters, CNN, 21 Sep. 2023
However, note that some cheaper options may require additional purchases, such as mop pad refills.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2023
Hedge fund billionaire John Paulson used a sham purchase of a luxury penthouse apartment in Puerto Rico to improperly enrich himself by $10 million at the expense of his family trust, his wife claims in a suit accusing him of hiding billions of dollars in assets during their divorce.
—Chris Dolmetsch, Fortune, 21 Sep. 2023
The California Department of Justice monitors individuals who legally purchase firearms under the Armed and Prohibited Persons System, a statewide database that cross-references purchases against other records.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2023
From record-breaking numbers entering their lounges in 2022, the airline’s fees for the annual Sky Club memberships increased from $545 to $695 from the start of 2023, and have only been available for purchase by Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and Silver Medallion members.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Sep. 2023
The claim that generates the most purchase among the more sober skeptics of Ukraine’s cause is that supporting Kyiv’s efforts to degrade Russia’s capacity to project power across its borders comes at the unacceptable cost of deterring Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.
—The Editors, National Review, 20 Sep. 2023
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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
Phrases Containing purchase
Dictionary Entries Near purchase
Cite this Entry
“Purchase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purchase. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
Legal Definition
purchase
1 of 2 verb
pur·chase
purchased; purchasing
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
: 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
Nglish: Translation of purchase for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of purchase for Arabic Speakers
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