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:
However, Israel's ministry of foreign affairs announced in May, external that it would procure another F-35 squadron.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 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
He announced that the U.S. is sanctioning more than 60 entities, individuals and vessels across the globe that enable Iran to procure technology, earn oil revenue and carry out cyber operations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
The company had forecast bookings of 20 billion euros, but warned earlier this month that Germany’s decision to scrap a project to procure F126 frigates would dent orders.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
She used it, strangely enough, to procure food for her starving father.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
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
Newman is a hoot: She tools around town in a dune buggy, procures lunch by stealing other people’s DoorDash orders and fakes IBS more than once to get out of a fix.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 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
Tehran procured the images both before and after the attack.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
Syria also procured large amounts of graphite needed to keep the nuclear reactions in the reactor steady.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
It also lends the sandwich the air of something procured from a real cute deli, perhaps one with handwritten menu boards and expensive sparkling water.
From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026
A further 29.8 million tonnes of rice is expected to be added once paddy already procured from farmers is milled.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
Fujiko cleaned rooms there for three years, until one day Hisao came home with the news that he had procured jobs for them with the National Cannery Company.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
Working with its partners, ESA was responsible for developing and qualifying the Ariane 5 adaptations needed for the Webb mission and for procuring the launch service from Arianespace.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026
She’s tried to replicate the experience in Sarasota, by importing Italian pastas and flours and procuring French butter from specialty stores.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026
Cady turns their lives into a trap of paranoia and, indeed, fear, while procuring plausible deniability to avoid consequences.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
A report prepared for Whitby councillors ahead of a debate on the issue in March cited "ethical and legal challenges" of procuring a new set of real whale bones.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
Imagine that you are a government official charged with procuring the funds to fight one of two proven killers: terrorist attacks and heart disease.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
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.
