purse
Americannoun
-
purses
plural
-
Also called change purse. a small bag, pouch, or case for carrying money.
-
anything resembling a purse in appearance, use, etc.
-
a sum of money offered as a prize or reward.
-
a sum of money collected as a present or the like.
-
money, resources, or wealth.
verb (used with object)
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purses,
present (3rd person singular)
-
pursed,
past participle, past
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pursing
present participle
-
to contract into folds or wrinkles; pucker.
to purse one's lips.
-
to put into a purse.
noun
-
a small bag or pouch, often made of soft leather, for carrying money, esp coins
-
a woman's handbag
-
anything resembling a small bag or pouch in form or function
-
wealth; funds
-
a sum of money that is offered, esp as a prize
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
pursesimple
-
pursessimple
-
have pursedperfect
-
has pursedperfect
-
am pursingprogressive
-
are pursingprogressive
-
is pursingprogressive
-
have been pursingperfect progressive
-
has been pursingperfect progressive
Past
-
pursedsimple
-
had pursedperfect
-
was pursingprogressive
-
were pursingprogressive
-
had been pursingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing purse
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Ghost Boys
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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:
“Want me to carry your purse for you?” he ribbed.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
Abrahams said she felt positive tangible change could be delivered by Burnham's government despite ongoing pressure on the national purse.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
Keep your phone somewhere inconvenient or even mildly inaccessible: in your coat pocket, for instance, or your purse.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026
The financial manipulations that undergirded their fortunes get scrutinized as theft from the public purse, praise for their courage and perspicacity yields to condemnation for their conduct.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026
With one hand, Ivy was holding on to the tall woman’s purse strap; with the other, Ivy was wiping a little boy’s face.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
"We hope that by putting this extraordinary bird into millions of pockets and purses, we can spark a nationwide conversation about a species at real risk of vanishing from Britain forever."
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
That doesn’t mean these particular investments are ones to match right now for investors with shorter time horizons and far lighter purses.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
Cartier is also benefiting from a growing perception that luxury jewelry offers better value for money than designer purses, after many handbag brands increased their prices too quickly during the pandemic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
“They tucked them into purses, filing cabinets, cookbooks and memory boxes because they believed they would be valuable someday. We think they were right.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026
She purses her lips and rubs my back in circles.
From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas
Two young women who appeared to be in their early 20s posed for selfies under a “Wish Tree,” mouths pursed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026
The visit has the heavy air of obligation — they don’t see Dad very often — and when he clumsily welcomes them into his ramshackle house, pregnant pauses and pursed lips ensue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 24, 2025
In the current, so-called third design generation, the hood slopes down to form the stiff upper lip of a mouth pursed with purpose.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 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
She pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
Sherman also mimics Wood’s voice and facial expressions on “White Lotus,” widening her eyes and pursing her lips behind those very prominent front teeth.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 14, 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
"Investigating burglary dwellings is a priority for Surrey Police and we will be relentless in pursing these offenders," Det Insp Ansell said.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2023
Lowe said police are pursing all possibilities in the disappearance.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 14, 2023
I look at her, pursing my lips like, How dumb are you?
From "Sparrow" by Sarah Moon
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.
