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Synonyms

shopping

American  
[shop-ing] / ˈʃɒp ɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of a person who shops.

  2. the facilities or merchandise available to those who shop.

    Chicago has good shopping.

adjective

  1. of, for, or pertaining to examining and buying merchandise.

    a shopping trip.
shopping British  
/ ˈʃɒpɪŋ /

noun

  1. a number or collection of articles purchased

  2. the act or an instance of making purchases

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of shopping

First recorded in 1755–65; shop + -ing 1, -ing 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But the machine at Weston Favell will be slightly different – users instead exchange bottles and cans for a printed ticket that can be swapped for rewards at participating retailers based in the shopping centre.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Egypt has ordered shops, restaurants and shopping malls to close from 9:00 pm on weekdays, hoping to curb energy bills that have more than doubled because of the war.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Like WeChat, Max’s developers said the app would soon add a payments system and integrate games, shopping, food delivery and healthcare services.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

What began as a routine day of shopping in Valencia quickly turned into a disturbing encounter that has prompted a law enforcement investigation.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

Nancy grabbed a red plastic shopping basket, while George unfolded their shopping list.

From "Scream for Ice Cream: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #2" by Carolyn Keene

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.