purse

1 of 2

noun

ˈpərs

Synonyms of purse next

a(1)

: a small bag for money

(2)

: a receptacle (such as a pocketbook) for carrying money and often other small objects

: a receptacle (such as a pouch) shaped like a purse

: resources, funds

: a sum of money offered as a prize or present

also : the total amount of money offered in prizes for a given event

purselike

ˈpərs-ˌlīk

adjective

purse

2 of 2

verb

pursed; pursing

transitive verb

: to put into a purse

: pucker, knit

pursed his brow

Examples of purse in a Sentence

Noun a golf tournament with a million dollar purse I left my purse at home, so I can't buy anything after all. Verb She pursed her lips in concentration. His lips were tightly pursed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Small novelty purses in the shape of a burger or cupcake or whatever are permitted, if intended as camp. —

Hayley Tillett, The New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2023 Taylor Swift, Jennifer Aniston, Mindy Kaling, and Martha Stewart, and are just a few of the stars who have been spotted carrying various versions of the hands-free purse style. —

Taylor Jean Stephan, Peoplemag, 23 Sep. 2023 The Biden administration is issuing recommendations for federal agencies to consider the economic effects of greenhouse gas emissions in their budgeting and purchasing decisions, an unprecedented move meant to harness the government's power of the purse against climate change. —

Nancy Vu, Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2023 Looking to go hands-free with your laptop bag, tote, or purse while traveling between point A and point B? —

Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 21 Sep. 2023 Taylor’s son took the gun, which was stored without a lock, from her purse and stowed it in his backpack before heading to school on Jan. 6. —

Justin Jouvenal, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023 Grand theft: South Woodland Road At 9:35 p.m. Sept. 16, a Shaker Heights woman, 49, reported that someone stole her purse from her car as it was parked at Canterbury Golf Club, 22000 S. Woodland Road. —

cleveland, 19 Sep. 2023 No charges will be filed against the parents of the 4-year-old who found his mother’s gun inside of her purse in the closet, Gary Police released Monday. —

Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2023 Her purse, cellphone, shoes and even her jeans were found in the marsh eight miles from Gilgo Beach. —

Morgan Canty, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'purse.' 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

Noun

Middle English purs, from Old English, modification of Medieval Latin bursa, from Late Latin, ox hide, from Greek byrsa

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of purse was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Purse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purse. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

purse

1 of 2 noun

ˈpərs

: a small container (as a wallet) for money

especially : a woman's pocketbook

: a source of supply or support

: a sum of money offered as a prize or present

purse

2 of 2 verb

pursed; pursing

: to put into a purse

: pucker entry 1

pursed lips

Etymology

Noun

Old English purs "a small bag for money, purse," from Latin bursa "purse," from earlier bursa "oxhide," from Greek byrsa (same meaning) — related to disburse, reimburse