purse
Americannoun
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Also called change purse. a small bag, pouch, or case for carrying money.
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anything resembling a purse in appearance, use, etc.
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a sum of money offered as a prize or reward.
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a sum of money collected as a present or the like.
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money, resources, or wealth.
verb (used with object)
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to contract into folds or wrinkles; pucker.
to purse one's lips.
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to put into a purse.
noun
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a small bag or pouch, often made of soft leather, for carrying money, esp coins
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a woman's handbag
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anything resembling a small bag or pouch in form or function
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wealth; funds
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a sum of money that is offered, esp as a prize
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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pursesimple
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pursessimple
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have pursedperfect
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has pursedperfect
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am pursingprogressive
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are pursingprogressive
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is pursingprogressive
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have been pursingperfect progressive
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has been pursingperfect progressive
Past
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pursedsimple
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had pursedperfect
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was pursingprogressive
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were pursingprogressive
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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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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:
She pulls a hand-held camera from her purse, adjusts her soft curls, and applies a fresh coat of lip gloss.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
Early doesn’t run like the Wayans brothers, dressed like women, trying to retrieve a stolen purse in “White Chicks.”
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026
Rousey, who chose to fight on an MVP card rather than the UFC because of fight purse demands, reacted to news of the viewing figures by targeting UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
Julián Delgado Lopera appeared onstage, pulled his brand new novel, “Pretend You’re Dead and I Carry You,” out of the purse with two heads and read a sticky-noted passage aloud to the crowd.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026
Sliding on my flip-flops, braiding my frizzy hair, tucking the postcards into my black-and-white checkerboard purse and squeezing into the backseat between Emma and Andre—even that made sense.
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
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
Lavie would allegedly target higher-end items, such as designer clothing and purses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2026
After she left the dress department, Mrs. Trepid wandered around the store, touching purses and scarves and slips.
From "Ruby Holler" by Sharon Creech
There were sunglasses, silly expressions and pursed selfie faces in the mirror.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026
His body language certainly didn’t project enthusiasm at the prospect of remaining with the Lakers for the remainder of his career, as his voice was monotone and his lips were pursed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 5, 2025
He stares at me directly, lips pursed, and chin raised, as he sits before the judge.
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2024
Barnes nails Trump’s pursed lips and soft squint without ever descending into mimicry.
From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2024
The Model 82958s just pursed their lips and shook their heads as if they were deeply disappointed.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Big tech firms are spending vast amounts of money pursing these goals.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2025
“This straw is an anti-wrinkle straw, so you’re not pursing your lips as much when you drink out of it sideways like this,” she said in the video, posted last week.
From New York Times ● Apr. 15, 2024
In 2016, the city stopped a developer from pursing a plan to put hundreds of apartments along Cahuenga Pass.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2023
She dedicates “Shape of Me” to her mother, a breast cancer survivor, and reveals pursing therapy in the bouncy, self-reflective “Girl in the Mirror.”
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 19, 2023
“Yeah, but not like that. Not like spring break road trip besties,” Anna says, pursing her lips.
From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli
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.
