procure
Americanverb (used with object)
-
procures,
present (3rd person singular)
-
procured,
past participle, past
-
procuring
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
procures,
present (3rd person singular)
-
procured,
past participle, past
-
procuring
present participle
verb
-
(tr) to obtain or acquire; secure
-
to obtain (women or girls) to act as prostitutes
Usage
What does procure mean? To procure something is to obtain or get it, especially through special means or extra effort. The word is especially used in the context of the formal, official process of purchasing and obtaining materials, supplies, or equipment, particularly in the context of business or government. The noun form procurement most commonly refers to this process. Many large companies and government agencies have a procurement department that handles the ordering and acquisition of supplies. Such a department is often simply referred to as procurement, as in You’ll have to ask procurement to order those materials. Procurement can also be used in a general way to refer to the act or process of procuring in any context. Example: It took me a few months to track it down, but I was able to procure that rare book for her birthday.
Synonym Usage
See get.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
procurancenoun
-
procurementnoun
-
procurableadjective
-
self-procuredadjective
-
self-procuringadjective
-
unprocuredadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
procuresimple
-
procuressimple
-
have procuredperfect
-
has procuredperfect
-
am procuringprogressive
-
are procuringprogressive
-
is procuringprogressive
-
have been procuringperfect progressive
-
has been procuringperfect progressive
Past
-
procuredsimple
-
had procuredperfect
-
was procuringprogressive
-
were procuringprogressive
-
had been procuringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of procure
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English procuren, from Latin prōcūrāre “to take care of”; see pro- 1, cure
Explanation
In prison movies, there's always a character who is able to procure all sorts of contraband from the inside — magazines, playing cards, special soap. If you procure something, you get it or bring it about by special effort. Procure's synonym obtain is a little formal, but less formal than procure itself. The noun procurement commonly refers to the obtaining of materials and supplies. Procure descends from Middle English procuren, from Old French procurer, "to take care of," from Latin prōcūrāre, formed from the prefix prō-, "for", plus cūrāre, "to care for."
Vocabulary lists containing procure
Animal Farm
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Othello
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Chains
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Developers must procure their own energy resources and fully fund their infrastructure and microgrid costs, among other requirements.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026
The company entered agreements with GE Vernova and Baker Hughes Energy Services to procure equipment for the on-site power plants.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Botched executions have come under scrutiny over the past decade, since a shortage of the drugs used led some states to change the formula, or procure drugs from more questionable sources.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
However, while its sanctions announced on Monday targeted some Chinese entities accused of helping Tehran procure "critical technology", Washington has so far held back from punishing major Chinese financial institutions.
From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026
This very morning, she announces, she has managed to procure what might be the last two crates of peaches in France.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
China’s state-owned Yuntianhua Group, one of the country’s largest phosphate-fertilizer producers, depends on sulfur—the same globally traded raw material China procures from American companies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
In one biblical tale, Jesus procures a large catch of fish, and promises his disciples an abundance of followers when he commands them to be “fishers of men.”
From National Geographic ● Jul. 26, 2023
“Knights of the Zodiac,” a 2023 live-action reimagining of Masami Kurumada’s revered manga “Saint Seiya” and an anime series, procures plenty of recognizable elements from the original iterations.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2023
The government's Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, which procures the vaccine, has requested 5.5 million doses for delivery this year and the next, the company said.
From Reuters ● Aug. 18, 2022
When Celia procures him a black-and-white-striped paper bag of popcorn, he insists he wants caramel as well, and will not eat it plain.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Energy Minister Jean Mathanga said on Monday that more than 23 million litres of petrol and diesel had been procured, with nearly half in transit and some already reaching filling stations.
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026
In addition, the government has procured supplies of protective equipment.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
Army exercise at Fort Irwin, newly procured drones and developmental communication systems at times failed to perform as intended.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
A mirrored shelf procured at a Glassell Park estate sale for $80 hangs on the wall.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Trefusis, however, had procured a letter from Lord Dunmore which approved my lessons in philosophy and language should continue; and a letter of commission that transferred Bono to my company.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
Syrskyi told the BBC that he had "disagreements" with Fedorov because the latter "didn't take into consideration the interests of the army" when procuring weapons and supplies.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
After procuring my press ticket, I waited for the yellow carpet, where I was asked multiple times if I was “part of the influencers group.”
From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2026
The United States also accuses the company of procuring military-related goods from Russia and China.
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
HUD has launched an inspector general investigation of alleged misconduct at the agency and suspended it from procuring federal funds while the investigation is underway.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
It might even be that Dumbledore did not want anything to distract Harry from their lessons, or from procuring that memory from Slughorn.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
