shop

1 of 2

noun

often attributive
1
: a handicraft establishment : atelier
2
a
: a building or room stocked with merchandise for sale : store
b
or less commonly shoppe : 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

shop

2 of 2

verb

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

Example Sentences

Noun 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. Verb 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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Asma packed them along with snacks from her father’s shop, plus three sets of clothes to fit her pregnant and postpartum body. Kristen Gelineau, BostonGlobe.com, 6 June 2023 Unlicensed shops rushed in to fill the void, especially in New York City, but those outlets aren’t a legal market for the state’s farmers. Michael Hill, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2023 Dallmann Confections, an online shop of handcrafted chocolates based in San Diego, is making delicious delicacies by combining old world traditions with modern touches. San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2023 In the days before the June 4 anniversary on Sunday, even small shops that displayed items alluding to the crackdown were closely monitored, receiving multiple visits from the police. Tiffany May, New York Times, 4 June 2023 For example, doughnut chains rule the East Coast, but independent shops thrive in Texas and California. Sarah Bahari, Dallas News, 2 June 2023 The restaurant's post also stated that Mojo's would continue operating their other Fayetteville shop at 2630 E. Citizens Drive. Bliss Cupake Cafe May 25 was the last day that Bliss Cupcake Cafe was open in Fayetteville and Rogers, according to a Facebook post by the business. Benjamin Collins, Arkansas Online, 2 June 2023 Duck Donuts has a free donut deal for National Donut Day Get a free cinnamon sugar donut on Friday, June 2, in Duck Donuts shops. Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 1 June 2023 Here's your guide to some of the best doughnut shops in metro Phoenix. Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 1 June 2023
Verb
Scroll on to shop our top picks from the sale, or hit the button below to get right to it. Micki Wagner, Popular Mechanics, 18 May 2023 His interests include shopping for rare vintage clothes and following his favorite baseball team, the Kansas City Royals. John Thompson, Men's Health, 18 May 2023 But by the time Hancen Sale was shopping for his first home in late 2020 and early 2021, only 1,300 properties were for sale. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 14 May 2023 When shopping for a product for frizzy hair, in general, leaning towards natural ingredients will leave your hair and skin happier and healthier. Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Health, 12 May 2023 Twenty winners each receive a $50 gift card to shop at Mission Marketplace and have a free lunch with their nominators at Mountain Mike’s Pizza on June 3. Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2023 Where to Buy Rare Air Jordan Colorways and Vintage Styles Online If Air has inspired your inner sneakerhead to add to your kicks collection, there are several ways to shop Nike’s iconic Air Jordan shoe online. Danielle Directo-meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 May 2023 Keep reading to discover the top 10 travel must-haves available during this sale — but don’t wait too long to shop because time is running out. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2023 Available in nine colors, the most difficult thing about shopping this design will be deciding which hue(s) to get. Kelsey Mulvey, womenshealthmag.com, 11 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shop.' 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 shoppe, from Old English sceoppa booth; akin to Old High German scopf shed

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1806, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of shop was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near shop

Cite this Entry

“Shop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shop. Accessed 9 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

shop

1 of 2 noun
1
: a place of business : office
2
a
: a building or room where goods are sold retail
b
also shoppe : a small store offering a specialized line of goods
a gift shop
3
: a place where workers are doing a particular kind of work especially with machinery
a print shop
4
a
: a school laboratory equipped for industrial arts education
b
: industrial arts
take shop as a freshman
metal shop
5
: shoptalk
talk shop

shop

2 of 2 verb
shopped; shopping
1
: to visit shops for the purpose of looking over and buying goods
2
: to look for the best buy
shop around for a new car
shopper noun

Legal Definition

shop

noun
: a business establishment : a place of employment see also closed shop, open shop, union shop

More from Merriam-Webster on shop

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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