purse

noun

\ ˈpərs

Definition of purse

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a(1) : a small bag for money

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

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

2a : resources, funds

b : a sum of money offered as a prize or present also : the total amount of money offered in prizes for a given event

purse

verb

pursed; pursing

Definition of purse (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to put into a purse

2 : pucker, knit pursed his brow

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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

Cut up a white paper towel and just carry the strips in your purse or pocket. — Rachel Sugar, Vox, "Here is why you look like a vampire.," 18 Dec. 2018 Perfect for keeping small bags around and individual ones in a purse or pockets. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "The 8 Best Breath Mints to Carry Around With You All Day," 7 Dec. 2018 The latest experiment is the KY-O1L, a phone that would likely fit in one of the credit card slots in your wallet or purse. — Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, "This business card-sized Japanese phone bucks the giant-phone trend," 19 Oct. 2018 There will be a security check at the door, so the job fair manager asks that large purses or briefcases be left at home to help the entrance line move faster. — Marcia Heroux Pounds, Sun-Sentinel.com, "More than 3,000 jobs available at job fair Wednesday in Sunrise," 19 Mar. 2018 Behind her followed an assistant, carrying two of the Queen's bags—one red leather purse, topped with a bouquet of matching flowers, and a vintage briefcase. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Queen Elizabeth Travels to Sandringham for Christmas in Stylish Winter Outfit," 20 Dec. 2018 Her accessories were equally stunning, including a sash and badges, a bold diamond necklace, a metallic gold purse, and matching shoes. — Kayleigh Roberts, Harper's BAZAAR, "Queen Elizabeth II Looks More Regal Than Ever at the Annual Diplomatic Reception," 4 Dec. 2018 The Manchester Road Race in Connecticut, which is one of the most competitive trots and attracts world-class athletes because of a decent prize money purse, was founded 1927. — Cheryl Wischhover, Vox, "Thanksgiving is now the most popular race day in America.," 20 Nov. 2018 The top hat, wheelbarrow, and Scottie dog are now tiny replicas of Sophia's purse, Stan's toupee, and Rose's teddy bear. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "Stop Everything: 'Golden Girls' Monopoly and Clue Are 40% Off on Amazon," 16 July 2018

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