purchase

verb

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pur·chase | \ ˈpər-chəs

purchased; purchasing

Definition of purchase

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : 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

purchase

noun

Definition of purchase (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : an act or instance of purchasing

2 : something obtained especially for a price in money or its equivalent

3a(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

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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 affordable housing project is the latest by Aeon, which refinanced, helped purchase or rehab existing apartments across the Twin Cities. — Star Tribune, "Construction to begin on apartments at former Flyte Tyme Studios site in Edina," 18 Jan. 2021 For more information, or to purchase a square, email joesantoro2407@gmail.com. — cleveland, "Avon Lake Public Library celebrates 90th anniversary: Short Takes on Avon, Avon Lake and North Ridgeville," 15 Jan. 2021 The practice is gaining momentum thanks to the widespread adoption of fractional trading—which allows investors to purchase slivers of traditional shares—as well as an industry push to reduce online trading fees to zero. — Julia Carpenter, WSJ, "When Some Investors Look at Stocks They See Dollars, Not Shares," 15 Jan. 2021 Danner reported that two companies have expressed an interest in paying the town a lump sum to purchase the future leasing rights to the town’s cell tower. — Bill Mchugh | Contributing Writer, NOLA.com, "Madisonville council gets status updates," 15 Jan. 2021 The African Union and the World Bank are also working together to to allow member states access to $5 billion to purchase more vaccines. — Brent Swails And Eoin Mcsweeney, CNN, "African Union secures 270 million extra Covid vaccine doses for the continent," 14 Jan. 2021 The governor has said the money will help the state build the vaccine management system for health providers, purchase transportation and storage supplies and expand a public education campaign. — Dustin Gardiner, SFChronicle.com, "California legislators will return to flurry of major pandemic response votes," 10 Jan. 2021 The federal government’s warrants to purchase 79.9 percent of the companies’ shares are exercisable until September 2028. — Michael Taylor, ExpressNews.com, "Taylor: The unfinished business of Fannie and Freddie," 5 Jan. 2021 Right before the new year, the Bezosian mothership announced its intention to purchase Wondery, the podcast publisher known for its pulpy offerings that also stands as the last big buyable podcast asset of this past generation. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, "L’Affaire Caliphate," 5 Jan. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun News of the purchase came Monday when Jack Beyer, a NasaSpaceFlight.com photographer, tweeted images of Deimos. — Brandon Lingle, Chron, "SpaceX to convert offshore oil platforms into spaceports," 21 Jan. 2021 Any consumers who purchased the affected batches of Hot Pockets should throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. — Francesca Gariano, NBC News, "Over 760,000 pounds of Hot Pockets recalled, may contain 'pieces of glass and plastic'," 16 Jan. 2021 Ticketholders can obtain refunds at points-of-purchase. — Deborah Martin, ExpressNews.com, "Carver Community Cultural Center in San Antonio cancels Hiplet Ballerinas performance due to coronavirus surge," 13 Jan. 2021 That’s the kind of purchase a real leader recognizes for its value. — Popular Science, "Learn the methods of leadership from the top instructors in the business," 7 Jan. 2021 The company will ship orders on Mondays to Wednesdays, with the goal of delivery within two days of purchase. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "The Dish: San Diego entrepreneurs bringing sustainable seafood and packaged meals to local doorsteps," 29 Dec. 2020 People would rather pay $25 than $100 [at the moment of purchase]. — Evan Ramstad, Star Tribune, "With Sezzle now worth more than $1 billion, CEO describes a year on a rocket ship," 26 Dec. 2020 These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase, the agency added. — Kate Gibson, CBS News, "46 tons of Lean Cuisine meals recalled after complaints of plastic pieces," 21 Dec. 2020 Digital Xbox games are only eligible for refund within 14 days of purchase, and Microsoft notes that submitting a refund request doesn’t guarantee a refund. — Michael Andronico, CNN Underscored, "Cyberpunk 2077 is a mess — how to get your refund (and what to play instead)," 17 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'purchase.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

25 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Purchase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purchase. Accessed 27 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for purchase

purchase

verb

English Language Learners Definition of purchase

(Entry 1 of 2)

formal : to buy (property, goods, etc.) : to get (something) by paying money for it

purchase

noun

English Language Learners Definition of purchase (Entry 2 of 2)

: an act of buying something

: something that is bought

: a firm hold or grip that makes movement possible

See the full definition for purchase in the English Language Learners Dictionary

purchase

verb

pur·chase | \ ˈpər-chəs

purchased; purchasing

Kids Definition of purchase

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to get by paying money : buy

purchase

noun

Kids Definition of purchase (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : an act of buying the purchase of supplies

2 : something bought

3 : a firm hold or grasp or a safe place to stand I could not get a purchase on the slippery ledge.

purchase

verb

pur·chase

purchased; purchasing

Legal Definition of purchase

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

purchase

noun

Legal Definition of purchase (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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

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