purse

American  

[purs] / pɜrs /

noun

• purses
  plural

1. handbag.

2. Also called change purse.  a small bag, pouch, or case for carrying money.

3. anything resembling a purse in appearance, use, etc.

4. a sum of money offered as a prize or reward.

5. a sum of money collected as a present or the like.

6. money, resources, or wealth.

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verb (used with object)

• purses,
  present (3rd person singular)
• pursed,
  past participle,  past
• pursing
  present participle

1. to contract into folds or wrinkles; pucker.

   to purse one's lips.

2. to put into a purse.

purse British  

/ pɜːs /

noun

1. a small bag or pouch, often made of soft leather, for carrying money, esp coins

2. a woman's handbag

3. anything resembling a small bag or pouch in form or function

4. wealth; funds

5. a sum of money that is offered, esp as a prize

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verb

1. (tr) to contract (the mouth, lips, etc) into a small rounded shape

purse Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing purse

• can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• purseless
  adjective
• purselike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• purses
  plural

Participles

• pursing
  present
• pursed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• purse
  simple
• purses
  simple
• have pursed
  perfect
• has pursed
  perfect
• am pursing
  progressive
• are pursing
  progressive
• is pursing
  progressive
• have been pursing
  perfect progressive
• has been pursing
  perfect progressive

Past

• pursed
  simple
• had pursed
  perfect
• was pursing
  progressive
• were pursing
  progressive
• had been pursing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will purse
  simple
• will have pursed
  perfect
• will be pursing
  progressive
• will have been pursing
  perfect progressive

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

purse purses pursed pursing

The purse is $40 million, cash that instead could be earmarked for 2027.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

Fundamentally, what makes a legislature powerful is its control over taxing and spending, the power of the purse.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

I couldn’t tell whether she meant the jazz CD Stephen was holding or “The Secret Garden,” but I took it as permission nonetheless and slipped the book into my purse.

From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026

"We all know the public purse is under some stress, so additional income is welcome," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

I follow them down the sidewalk, zipping and unzipping my purse in nervous anticipation.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Beneath this level, a "Challenger Series" will run concurrently with purses worth at least $4m.

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026

The politicians and soldiers made what the British call a “pig’s ear” of Colonial policy, but the painters show that defeat was also the material of silk purses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026

An agreement is in place and both fighters are expected to earn career-high purses when they finally meet, with October or November the likely target dates.

From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026

LIV Golf purses each week are $30 million — 50% more than PGA Tour purses.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026

Liz purses her lips, then folds her arms across her chest.

From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi

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

Her lips, coated in a nude lipstick, are pursed just enough to achieve the perfect pout.

From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2025

Their foreheads were pressed together, their eyes were shut, their hands clasped; her lips were ever-so-slightly pursed, his forehead was wrinkled in concentration.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2025

Her eyes met mine in the mirror, and her whole face assumed a kind of slyness: squinted eyes, pursed lips.

From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English

The fact it's his daughter pursing the sporting path is irrelevant to him.

From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2025

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

The Forest Service is pursing assisted population migration because it’s likely to have few if any “negative consequences” to ecosystems, he said.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 30, 2023

Sometimes Wealtheow would tip back her head, letting her copper-red hair fall free, and laugh; sometimes she listened, head cocked, now smiling, now soberly pursing her lips, only offering a nod.

From "Grendel" by John Gardner

Related Words

• bag
• handbag
• pocket
• pocketbook
• pouch
• wallet