purchase

UK: /ˈpɜː^rtʃɪs/ US: /ˈpɝtʃəs/ ,(pûr′chəs)

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

purchases

v 3rd person singular

purchasing

v pres p

purchased

v past

purchased

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pur•chase /ˈpɜrtʃəs/   v., -chased, -chas•ing, n. 
v. [~ + object]

1. to get or obtain by the payment of money or its equivalent;
   buy:
   enough money to purchase a house.
2. to be enough to buy:
   [not: be + ~ -ing] Ten dollars will purchase two tickets.
3. to get or obtain by effort, sacrifice, flattery, etc.:
   His loyalty can't be purchased.

n. 

4. acquisition;
   getting or obtaining by the payment of money or its equivalent:
   [uncountable] Mail in a proof of purchase.
5. something purchased or bought:
   [countable] made a few purchases.

pur•chas•a•ble, adj. 
pur•chas•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pur•chase  (pûr′chəs), v., -chased, -chas•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to acquire by the payment of money or its equivalent;
   buy.
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. Mechanics to move, haul, or raise, esp. by applying mechanical power.
7. Mechanics to get a leverage on;
   apply a lever, pulley, or other aid to.
8. [Obs.] to procure, acquire, or obtain.

v.i. 

9. to buy something.

n. 

10. acquisition by the payment of money or its equivalent;
    buying, or a single act of buying.
11. something that is purchased or bought.
12. something purchased, with respect to value in relation to price;
    buy:
    At three for a dollar they seemed like a good purchase.
13. Law the acquisition of land or other property by means other than inheritance.
14. acquisition by means of effort, labor, etc.:
    the purchase of comfort at the price of freedom.
15. Mechanics, Building a lever, pulley, or other device that provides mechanical advantage or power for moving or raising a heavy object.
16. Mechanics an effective hold or position for applying power in moving or raising a heavy object;
    leverage.
17. any means of applying or increasing power, influence, etc.
18. the annual return or rent from land.
19. a firm grip or grasp, footing, etc., on something.
20. [Obs.] booty.

• Anglo-French purchas (Old French porchas), derivative of the verb, verbal
• Latin prō pro¹) + chacer to chase¹; (noun, nominal) Middle English
• Anglo-French purchacer to seek to obtain, procure (Old French pourchacier), equivalent. to pur- (
• (verb, verbal) Middle English purchasen bef. 1150

pur′chas•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. get, obtain, procure. See buy. 
• 15. winch, capstan.

Antonyms

• 1. sell.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

purchase / ˈpɜːtʃɪs/ verb (transitive)

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

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

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French porchacier to strive to obtain, from por- for +chacier to chase¹

ˈpurchaser noun