purchase

The act of paying money to get something.

• No purchase is necessary to enter.
• We completed the purchase of our house yesterday.
• Keep this receipt as proof of purchase.

How to use it: purchase of something (The purchase of a house takes time.)

Similar words: buying

Opposites: sale

Common phrases: purchase of something, date of purchase, complete a purchase

Something that you have bought.

• My latest purchase is a coat.
• Please keep the receipts for your purchases.
• She showed me her new purchase.

Similar words: buy

Common phrases: latest purchase, new purchase, expensive purchase, recent purchase

A firm hold that lets you pull, climb, or move without slipping.

• Her fingers found purchase on the rock.
• The tires gained purchase on the dry ground.
• He could get no purchase on the slippery rope.

How to use it: purchase on something (My boots could get no purchase on the ice.)

Similar words: grip, hold

Common phrases: get purchase, gain purchase, purchase on something

To pay money to get something.

• You can purchase tickets here.
• We purchased a new computer yesterday.
• Did you purchase the goods online?

How to use it: purchase something from someone (We purchased the table from a local shop.); purchase something for an amount (She purchased the painting for fifty pounds.)

Similar words: buy

Opposites: sell

Common phrases: purchase a ticket, purchase something online, purchase from someone, purchase land

To gain something by giving up something valuable or by making a great effort.

• They purchased peace with painful sacrifices.
• Her silence was purchased with threats.
• He purchased their loyalty at the cost of his honor.

How to use it: purchase something with something (They purchased their freedom with years of suffering.); purchase something at the cost of something (He purchased success at the cost of his health.)

Similar words: obtain, secure

Common phrases: purchase peace, purchase freedom, purchase with something