shop

noun, often attributive \ ˈshäp \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of shop

1 : a handicraft establishment : atelier

2 a : a building or room stocked with merchandise for sale : store

b or less commonly shoppe play \ˈshäp\ : a small retail establishment or a department in a large one offering a specified line of goods or services

a millinery shop

a sandwich shop

3 : a commercial establishment for the making or repair of goods or machinery

machine shop

repair shop

4 a : a school laboratory equipped for industrial arts education

b : the art or science of working with tools and machinery

5 a : a business establishment : office

a public relations shop

b : shoptalk

talking shop

See shop defined for English-language learners

See shop defined for kids

Examples of shop in a Sentence

I took the car to the shop to get new brakes.
I am taking shop this semester.
I made a table in shop.
The wood shop is down the hall.

Recent Examples of shop from the Web

Food and medical care for the animals are funded by shop purchases.

— sheila vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "Anderson animal sanctuary learns what it's like to be rescued," 18 Apr. 2018
The Kroger located near 146th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway in Noblesville will soon be the first in Indiana to feature new scan-as-you-shop technology.

— andrew clark, Indianapolis Star, "Noblesville Kroger first in Indiana to get scan-as-you-shop technology," 18 Apr. 2018
Local shops donate gear and equipment, and Clifone bought his research vessel—an 18-foot inflatable boat—off of Craigslist.

— National Geographic, "This Film Crew Might Be the First to See Humpbacks Give Birth," 17 Apr. 2018
There currently are Creamistry shops at 5000 Westheimer and 791 Town and Country Blvd. in Houston, and 24515 Katy Freeway in Katy.

— greg morago, Houston Chronicle, "Friendswood to get Creamistry ice cream in May," 17 Apr. 2018
Yes, Sinclair is a huge national conglomerate, but most local television stations are run like mom-and-pop shops.

— jason johnson, The Root, "Here Are the House Races Where Sinclair Broadcast’s Propaganda Could Have the Biggest Impact," 17 Apr. 2018
The training — aimed at preventing discrimination at Starbucks shops — comes in response to swift public outcry over the arrest of two black men at a Starbucks in Philadelphia.

— alexia fernández campbell, Vox, "Starbucks will close all 8,000 US coffee shops next month for employee racial bias training," 17 Apr. 2018
Wonders The very affordable Wonders is an adults-only property that is also away from the beach, and about a 10-minute walk to downtown Oranjestad, where numerous restaurants and shops await.

— mark rogers, USA TODAY, "Honeymoon guide: Six appealing Aruba resorts for couples," 17 Apr. 2018
Those who live, work and shop in this area are really going to like the transformation of Main and Soledad.

— josh baugh, San Antonio Express-News, "Main Avenue, Soledad now two-way streets," 17 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of shop

Middle English shoppe, from Old English sceoppa booth; akin to Old High German scopf shed

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

shop Synonyms

Synonyms

argot, cant, dialect, jargon, jive, language, lingo, patois, patter, shoptalk, slang, terminology, vocabulary;

journalese;

shop

verb

Definition of shop

shopped; shopping

intransitive verb

1 a : to examine goods or services with intent to buy

b : to hunt through a market in search of the best buy

2 : to make a search : hunt

shopping around for a better idea

transitive verb

1 British : to inform on : betray

2 : to examine the stock or offerings of

shop the stores for Christmas gift ideas

3 : to offer for consideration or acceptance; especially : to offer for sale or in a trade —often used with around

shopping the manuscript around

See shop defined for English-language learners

Examples of shop in a Sentence

Where do you like to shop?
I like to shop at locally owned stores.
She is shopping for a new car.
Many people now shop online.
She's shopping her idea for a film.
His own mother shopped him to the police.

Recent Examples of shop from the Web

Attendees can shop at over 160 vendors, offering everything from food to solar panels to handmade crafts.

— emily sorensen, Pomerado News, "Spring Family Festival is Sunday," 18 Apr. 2018
Those who can't wait can shop at the pre-sale the night before, April 20, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The entry fee to the pre-sale is $7, cash only.

— quoron walker, Courant Community, "MOMS Club Semi-Annual Sale This Weekend," 17 Apr. 2018
Once the first half of the novel is solidified, Tremonti intends to shop it to publishing houses.

— christa titus, Billboard, "Mark Tremonti Discusses Concept Album 'A Dying Machine': Exclusive," 16 Apr. 2018
While Elias was orchestrating the money lending scheme, his children were shopping for the people still interned and bringing them food and supplies.

— jessica boehm, azcentral, "Founding family of Phoenix synagogue saved 1,500 people during the Holocaust," 12 Apr. 2018
Prime customers can now shop for certain Whole Food groceries on Amazon with same-day or one-day shipping.

— cory stieg, Good Housekeeping, "15 Perks of Amazon Prime You Probably Didn't Know About," 30 Mar. 2018
The retail landscape has been upended by the rise of Amazon and the growing shift by consumers to shopping online.

— forrest sellers, Cincinnati.com, "285 jobs lost as two eastside Sam's Club stores abruptly close," 11 Jan. 2018
Now that club manufacturers are using space-age materials and advanced technology, there are more factors than ever to consider when shopping for new clubs.

— michael williams, GQ, "Inside the Elite World of Custom-Fit Golf Clubs," 5 Apr. 2018
Press the issue Patient advocates advise shopping around for services, asking about cash prices and understanding the details of what your health plan covers.

— sarah gantz, Philly.com, "How having health insurance spiked her hospital bill by $400," 3 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of shop

1806

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

SHOP Defined for English Language Learners

shop

noun

Definition of shop for English Language Learners

: a building or room where goods and services are sold
: the place where a specified kind of worker works : a worker's place of business
: a place for making or repairing goods, machinery, vehicles, etc.

shop

verb

Definition of shop for English Language Learners

: to visit places where goods are sold in order to look at and buy things
: to try to get a company to publish or produce (something)
: to give information about the secret or criminal activity of (someone) to an authority (such as the police)