procure

American  

[proh-kyoor, pruh-] / proʊˈkyʊər, prə- /

verb (used with object)

procured, procuring

1. to obtain or get by care, effort, or the use of special means.

   to procure evidence.

   Synonyms:

   win, gain

   Antonyms:

   lose

2. to bring about, especially by unscrupulous and indirect means.

   to procure secret documents.

   Synonyms:

   contrive

3. to obtain (a person) for the purpose of prostitution.

---

verb (used without object)

procured, procuring

1. to act as a procurer or pimp.

   Synonyms:

   pimp, pander

procure British  

/ prəˈkjʊə /

verb

1. (tr) to obtain or acquire; secure

2. 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.

Related Words

See get.

Other Word Forms

• procurable adjective
• procurance noun
• procurement noun
• self-procured adjective
• self-procuring adjective
• unprocured adjective

Etymology

Origin of procure

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English procuren, from Latin prōcūrāre “to take care of”; pro- ¹, cure

Example Sentences

Utilities in New Jersey procure power from independent generators and pass on wholesale power prices, along with their costs for transmission and distribution, to customers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Nvidia also said it would leverage its financial strength to help procure land and power for the projects.

From The Wall Street Journal

Prosecutors said the group -- whose initials SS match those of Adolf Hitler's paramilitary organisation the Schutzstaffel -- had procured fatigues, combat helmets, gas masks and bullet-proof vests.

From Barron's

Zelensky said the new measures would include procuring vital energy equipment and resources from abroad to replace damaged installations.

From BBC

He said he procured legal representation and on Saturday “got in a car and drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• buy up
• get hold of
• solicit