purchase
gb/pˈɚt͡ʃəs/ us/pˈɚt͡ʃəs/
A2
English
~ 2400
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
to buy something
To get something by giving money for it.
Usage pattern:
to purchase [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'purchase' with 'buy'. 'Purchase' is more formal and often used in business or legal contexts, while 'buy' is more common in everyday speech.
Synonyms
buy (More common in everyday speech; less formal than 'purchase'.)
Antonyms
sell (Opposite transaction direction; to give something in exchange for money instead of obtaining it.)
Collocations
purchase goods
|purchase tickets
|purchase property
|purchase online
|purchase items
Themes
business
|daily life
|shopping
|daily_life
|finance
Examples
- She purchased a new laptop from the store.
- We need to purchase more office supplies.
- He purchased a ticket for the concert online.
- They purchased the house last year.
- I purchased some groceries on my way home.
Learner examples
- I purchased a shirt yesterday.
- He purchased a new phone.
- We purchased milk at the shop.
- She purchased a book online.
- They purchased a car last week.
Noun
A2
entity
2
thing bought
Something you have bought with money.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'purchase' as a noun with 'purse', which is unrelated.
Synonyms
buy (Can be used as a noun meaning 'something bought', but less formal than 'purchase'.)
Antonyms
sale (In this context, refers to the act of selling rather than buying.)
Collocations
make a purchase
|recent purchase
|good purchase
|large purchase
Themes
business
|daily life
|shopping
|daily_life
|finance
Examples
- This was my best purchase of the year.
- All purchases over $50 qualify for free shipping.
- Her recent purchase was a handmade necklace.
- The store offers a refund within 30 days of purchase.
- They made several purchases during their trip.
Learner examples
- This is my new purchase.
- I am happy with my purchase.
- Her purchase was a red dress.
- We made a big purchase today.
- The purchase arrived yesterday.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
3
firm grip or hold
A strong hold on something so you can move it or stay steady.
Common mistake:
Learners may not know this meaning because it is less common and often appears in technical or descriptive writing.
Synonyms
grip ('Grip' is more common in everyday use; 'purchase' is more formal or technical.)
Antonyms
slip (Losing grip or traction is the opposite of gaining purchase.)
Collocations
gain purchase
|lose purchase
|get a purchase
Themes
sports
|tools
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Examples
- The climber found purchase on the narrow ledge.
- He struggled to get any purchase on the icy ground.
- The tires lost purchase on the wet road.
- She gained purchase on the rope before pulling herself up.
Learner examples
- I got purchase on the rock.
- The shoe lost purchase on the ice.
- He found purchase on the wall.
- The tires gained purchase on the road.
Grammar
Dictionary form
purchase
IPA
GB/pˈɚt͡ʃəs/
US/pˈɚt͡ʃəs/
Syllables & stress
pur - chase (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pur)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: purchase
- Plural: purchase, purchases
Verb
- Base: purchase
- 3rd Person Singular: purchases
- Present Participle: purchasing
- Past: purchased
Word family
Expressions
make a purchase
1/mˈeɪk ə pˈɚt͡ʃəs/
fixed phrase
to buy something
To buy something by giving money for it.
Examples
- You must be over 18 to make a purchase here.
- Customers can make a purchase online or in-store.
point of purchase
1/pˈɔɪnt əv pˈɚt͡ʃəs/
fixed phrase
business
place where sale happens
The place or time when you pay for something you are buying.
Examples
- The store placed candy near the point of purchase to encourage impulse buys.
- Please present your ID at the point of purchase.
purchase order
1/pˈɚt͡ʃəs ˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
business
document requesting goods/services
A written request from a buyer to a seller for products or services.
Examples
- The company issued a purchase order for 500 units.
- Please attach the purchase order to your invoice.