procure

UK: /prəˈkjʊə^r/ US: /proʊˈkjʊr, prə-/ ,(prō kyŏŏr′, prə-)

Inflections of 'procure' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

procures

v 3rd person singular

procuring

v pres p

procured

v past

procured

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pro•cure /proʊˈkyʊr, prə-/   v., -cured, -cur•ing. 

1. to obtain (something) by care or effort:
   [~ + object] to procure secret documents.
2. to obtain (a person) for prostitution: [~ + object]
   procuring young prostitutes.
   [no object]
   arrested for procuring.

pro•cur•a•ble, adj. 
pro•cure•ment, n. 

[uncountable] checking government procurement contracts.

pro•cur•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pro•cure  (prō kyŏŏr′, prə-), v., -cured, -cur•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to obtain or get by care, effort, or the use of special means:
   to procure evidence.
2. to bring about, esp. by unscrupulous and indirect means:
   to procure secret documents.
3. to obtain (a person) for the purpose of prostitution.

v.i. 

4. to act as a procurer or pimp.

• Latin prōcūrāre to take care of. See pro-¹, cure
• Middle English procuren 1250–1300

pro•cure′ment, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. gain, win. See get. 
• 2. contrive.
• 4. pander, pimp.

Antonyms

• 1. lose.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

procure / prəˈkjʊə/ verb

1. (transitive) to obtain or acquire; secure
2. to obtain (women or girls) to act as prostitutes

Etymology: 13th Century: from Latin prōcūrāre to look after, from pro-¹ + cūrāre to care for

proˈcurable adjective