purchase

[ pur-chuhs ]

verb (used with object)

, pur·chased, pur·chas·ing.

1. to acquire by the payment of money or its equivalent; buy.

   Synonyms: procure, obtain, get

   Antonyms: sell

2. to acquire by effort, sacrifice, flattery, etc.
3. to influence by a bribe.
4. to be sufficient to buy:

   Twenty dollars purchases a subscription.

5. Law. to acquire (land or other property) by means other than inheritance.
6. to move, haul, or raise, especially by applying mechanical power.
7. to get a leverage on; apply a lever, pulley, or other aid to.
8. Obsolete. to procure, acquire, or obtain.

verb (used without object)

, pur·chased, pur·chas·ing.

1. to buy something.

noun

1. acquisition by the payment of money or its equivalent; buying, or a single act of buying.
2. something that is purchased or bought.
3. something purchased, with respect to value in relation to price; buy:

   At three for a dollar they seemed like a good purchase.

4. Law. the acquisition of land or other property by means other than inheritance.
5. acquisition by means of effort, labor, etc.:

   the purchase of comfort at the price of freedom.

6. a lever, pulley, or other device that provides mechanical advantage or power for moving or raising a heavy object.

   Synonyms: capstan, winch

7. an effective hold or position for applying power in moving or raising a heavy object; leverage.
8. any means of applying or increasing power, influence, etc.
9. the annual return or rent from land.
10. a firm grip or grasp, footing, etc., on something.
11. Obsolete. booty.

purchase

/ ˈpɜːtʃɪs /

verb

1. to obtain (goods, etc) by payment
2. to obtain by effort, sacrifice, etc

   to purchase one's freedom

3. to draw, haul, or lift (a load) with the aid of mechanical apparatus
4. to acquire (an estate) other than by inheritance

noun

1. something that is purchased, esp an article bought with money
2. the act of buying
3. acquisition of an estate by any lawful means other than inheritance
4. a rough measure of the mechanical advantage achieved by a lever
5. a firm foothold, grasp, etc, as for climbing or levering something
6. a means of achieving some influence, advantage, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈpurchaser, noun

Other Words From

• purchas·er noun
• mis·purchase verb (used with object) mispurchased mispurchasing
• non·purchase noun
• non·purchas·er noun
• over·purchase verb (used with object) overpurchased overpurchasing
• pre·purchase noun verb (used with object) prepurchased prepurchasing
• pre·purchas·er noun
• quasi-purchased adjective
• un·purchased adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of purchase¹

First recorded before 1150; (for the verb) Middle English purchasen, from Anglo-French purchacer “to seek to obtain, procure,” from pur- (from Latin prō pro ¹ ) + chacer “to chase” ( chase ¹ ); noun derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of purchase¹

C13: from Old French porchacier to strive to obtain, from por- for + chacier to chase ¹

Synonym Study

See buy.

Example Sentences

They were able to purchase weapons and plot attacks on the island without much interference.

From The Daily Beast

When my husband and I asked to see the report, we were told we could purchase the report for $30,000 from the defense.

From The Daily Beast

Which is why in 1961, the distillery finally decided to purchase the estate and its adjoining home.

From The Daily Beast

Whereas other brands purchase their barrels from big producers more or less off the rack, The Macallan starts in the forest.

From The Daily Beast

Customers can purchase cold beer at full price or warm bottles of beer at retail prices to take home.

From The Daily Beast

People have not only ceased to purchase those old-fashioned things called books, but even to read them!

From Project Gutenberg

From affluence he came to want, and in his old age a fund was raised sufficient to purchase him an annuity of £600 a year.

From Project Gutenberg

If this is not done, some person who afterward wished to purchase the land might object because the recorded title was defective.

From Project Gutenberg

So the courts abandoned the rule founded on the part payment of the purchase price.

From Project Gutenberg

Nor can he sell the property to himself, nor authorize any other person to bid and purchase for him either directly or indirectly.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• acquisition
• asset
• investment