shopping
gb/ʃˈɑpɪŋ/ us/ʃˈɑpɪŋ/
A1
English
~ 2900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
action
1
The activity of buying goods
The activity of going to stores to buy things.
Usage pattern:
to go shopping for [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'shopping' with 'shop', using 'I shopping' instead of 'I am shopping'. Remember 'shopping' is a noun or part of a verb phrase, not a standalone verb form.
Synonyms
purchasing (More formal; used in business or official contexts rather than casual conversation.)
Antonyms
selling (Opposite activity, involving giving goods to others in exchange for money.)
Collocations
go shopping
|do the shopping
|shopping trip
|shopping center
|shopping spree
Themes
daily life
|commerce
|leisure
|daily_life
|business
Examples
- We spent the afternoon shopping for clothes.
- Online shopping has become very popular in recent years.
- She went shopping at the mall after work.
- Shopping during the holiday season can be stressful.
- They enjoy shopping together on weekends.
Learner examples
- I go shopping every Saturday.
- My mother is shopping for food.
- We are shopping for new shoes.
- He likes shopping with his friends.
- They go shopping at the big store.
Noun
A2
entity
2
Goods bought from stores
Things you buy from stores.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with the activity of buying; context usually makes it clear whether 'shopping' refers to goods or the act.
Synonyms
purchases (A slightly more formal word for things bought.)
Antonyms
stock (Goods available for sale, not yet purchased.)
Collocations
carry shopping
|unpack the shopping
|put away the shopping
Themes
daily life
|commerce
|daily_life
Examples
- She carried the shopping into the kitchen.
- I left my shopping in the car.
- Can you help me unpack the shopping?
- We put the shopping on the table.
- His hands were full of shopping bags.
Learner examples
- I have a lot of shopping today.
- She brings the shopping home.
- He carries the shopping upstairs.
- We put the shopping in the fridge.
- The shopping is on the table.
Grammar
Dictionary form
shopping
IPA
GB/ʃˈɑpɪŋ/
US/ʃˈɑpɪŋ/
Syllables & stress
shop - ping (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (shop)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: shopping
- Plural: shopping, shoppings
Word family
Expressions
do the shopping
1/dˈu ðə ʃˈɑpɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Buy household goods regularly
To buy food and other things needed for home, often as a routine task.
Examples
- I usually do the shopping on Friday evenings.
- She did the shopping before picking up the kids.
go shopping
1/ɡˈoʊ ʃˈɑpɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Go somewhere to buy goods
To travel to stores to buy things.
Examples
- We usually go shopping on Saturdays.
- They went shopping for groceries after lunch.
shopping list
1/ʃˈɑpɪŋ lˈɪst/
fixed phrase
List of items to buy
A written list of things you need to buy from a store.
Examples
- She checked her shopping list before leaving home.
- I forgot to put milk on the shopping list.
shopping spree
1/ʃˈɑpɪŋ spɹˈi/
fixed phrase
informal
Period of buying many goods quickly
A short time when you buy many things, often for fun.
Examples
- They went on a shopping spree after getting their bonuses.
- Her birthday gift was a shopping spree at her favorite store.
window shopping
1/wˈɪndoʊ ʃˈɑpɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Looking without buying
Looking at things in store windows without planning to buy them.
Examples
- We spent the afternoon window shopping downtown.
- Window shopping is a fun way to pass time.
window shopping
2/wˈɪndoʊ ʃˈɑpɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Looking without buying in stores
Looking at things in store windows but not buying them.
Examples
- We spent the afternoon just window shopping downtown.
- She enjoys window shopping for clothes she can’t afford right now.