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

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

But the event the steamer was purchased for, Fernandez claimed, did not have tablecloths. —Tess Riski, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024

Reviews are based on product samples purchased by this newspaper or provided by manufacturers. —Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024

The book can be purchased on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. —Essence, 17 Apr. 2024

Users must be 18 or older to view, sell, and purchase items through TikTok Shop. —Alexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024

Marijuana dispensaries in Michigan In Michigan, those 21+ can purchase recreational cannabis regardless of residency. —Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 17 Apr. 2024

But many important questions right now land squarely on consumers, starting with what exactly is a dispensary, what can be purchased there, and are the products safe? —Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 17 Apr. 2024

Fans can also purchase single-day tickets for GA starting at $159 and VIP for $399. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2024

According to the Arizona Lottery's website, the cutoff time for purchasing Powerball tickets is 6:59 p.m. —The Arizona Republic, 16 Apr. 2024

Noun

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is working to complete the purchase of a conservation easement on important timberland and wildlife habitat in northwest Montana. —Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 18 Apr. 2024

No purchase is necessary for the sweepstakes, which is open only to legal residents of all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. —Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024

Board members had been pressing Baxter for months to produce a list of book removals and purchases after learning that the library had sold or donated about 15,000 books in recent years, shrinking the overall collection by about a third. —Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024

Imports have also been weak, with falling commodity prices and weak domestic demand due to a housing market crisis and other issues undermining Chinese purchases of foreign goods. —TIME, 18 Apr. 2024

Some critics have pushed the administration to go further to reduce the revenue available to Iran’s government by sanctioning China’s huge purchases of Iranian oil. —Jeff Stein, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024

Memberships with giveaways, tournaments and networking The store offers an elite membership program for $20 per month which includes 5% off gear purchases, free lens cleanings, and eligibility for monthly giveaways. —Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024

Source: Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission, Times/Civil Beat analysis By The New York Times In April 2023, the Senate Ways and Means Committee, led by Mr. Dela Cruz, budgeted for the purchase of a Maui hotel to convert into affordable housing and a school. —Irene Casado Sanchez, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024

Since 1998, the tech titan, which is headquartered in Cupertino, has treated all online purchases of products within California as if they were made in the city, abiding by a 1950s law that looks at orders based on the location of the sale and not the customer’s. —Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024

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

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