purse

American  

[purs] / pɜrs /

noun

purses plural

1. handbag.

2. Also called change purse.  a small bag, pouch, or case for carrying money.

3. anything resembling a purse in appearance, use, etc.

4. a sum of money offered as a prize or reward.

5. a sum of money collected as a present or the like.

6. money, resources, or wealth.

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verb (used with object)

purses, present (3rd person singular) pursed, past participle, past pursing present participle

1. to contract into folds or wrinkles; pucker.

   to purse one's lips.

2. to put into a purse.

purse British  

/ pɜːs /

noun

1. a small bag or pouch, often made of soft leather, for carrying money, esp coins

2. a woman's handbag

3. anything resembling a small bag or pouch in form or function

4. wealth; funds

5. a sum of money that is offered, esp as a prize

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verb

1. (tr) to contract (the mouth, lips, etc) into a small rounded shape

purse Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing purse

• can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• purseless
  adjective
• purselike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• purses
  plural

Participles

• pursing
  present
• pursed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• purse
  simple
• purses
  simple
• have pursed
  perfect
• has pursed
  perfect
• am pursing
  progressive
• are pursing
  progressive
• is pursing
  progressive
• have been pursing
  perfect progressive
• has been pursing
  perfect progressive

Past

• pursed
  simple
• had pursed
  perfect
• was pursing
  progressive
• were pursing
  progressive
• had been pursing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will purse
  simple
• will have pursed
  perfect
• will be pursing
  progressive
• will have been pursing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of purse

First recorded before 1100; (noun) Middle English, Old English purs, blend of pusa “bag” (cognate with Old Norse posi ) and Medieval Latin bursa “bag” (ultimately from Greek býrsa “hide, leather”); (verb) Middle English pursen “to put in a purse,” derivative of the noun

Explanation

Though purses are mostly carried by women, this is the kind of purse anyone would love to bring home: it's a prize, usually consisting of money. The most common meaning of purse, as a woman's bag, can definitely help you remember the "prize" meaning of purse, because a woman who won a purse could carry her winnings in a purse. The non-bag type of purse is usually associated with sporting events: boxers and jockeys win purses. Other times, purse is used to describe money won in another context, like a photography contest. Another meaning is totally different: if you pucker or contract your lips, you're pursing them.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

purse purses pursed pursing

Maybe I should be looking for a purse.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

The device has a small indicator light and Narisetti says audio recording doesn’t work very well if the device is hidden in a pocket or purse.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Early doesn’t run like the Wayans brothers, dressed like women, trying to retrieve a stolen purse in “White Chicks.”

From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026

Julián Delgado Lopera appeared onstage, pulled his brand new novel, “Pretend You’re Dead and I Carry You,” out of the purse with two heads and read a sticky-noted passage aloud to the crowd.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026

She took the guidebook from her purse and showed it to Simon.

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood

Beneath this level, a "Challenger Series" will run concurrently with purses worth at least $4m.

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026

For her, assimilation took the form of middle-class attainment: a nice home, Coach purses and a leased C-Class Mercedes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026

An agreement is in place and both fighters are expected to earn career-high purses when they finally meet, with October or November the likely target dates.

From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026

The PGA Tour’s entire schedule is being rewritten to add top-tier events with smaller fields and larger purses to pit the best players against each other more frequently.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 14, 2026

I'm spurred on by fear, trying to apologize as I knock into shoulders and purses and small children.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

There were sunglasses, silly expressions and pursed selfie faces in the mirror.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026

His body language certainly didn’t project enthusiasm at the prospect of remaining with the Lakers for the remainder of his career, as his voice was monotone and his lips were pursed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 5, 2025

Mr Millard-Smith said PCNs were "a contractual debt", which could ultimately be pursed through the civil courts and result in a County Court Judgement, which can affect your credit rating.

From BBC ● Nov. 30, 2024

Barnes nails Trump’s pursed lips and soft squint without ever descending into mimicry.

From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2024

I nodded, and John Henry pursed his lips.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

Big tech firms are spending vast amounts of money pursing these goals.

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2025

Enter the anti-wrinkle straw, shaped like the number 7, with a small hole at the top horizontal portion that allows users to drink without pursing their lips.

From New York Times ● Apr. 15, 2024

Lizzo said she isn’t letting critics and negativity get in the way of pursing “the joy of my life”: creating music and sharing it with listeners.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2024

Lowe said police are pursing all possibilities in the disappearance.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 14, 2023

And I would see Shirley tapping her feet, or singing a sailor song, or pursing her lips into a very round O while saying, “Oh my goodness.”

From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan

Related Words

• bag
• handbag
• pocket
• pocketbook
• pouch
• wallet