shop around
Britishverb
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to visit a number of shops or stores to compare goods and prices
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to consider a number of possibilities before making a choice
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Look for the best bargain, opportunity, or the like, as in This job offers only minimum wage so she decided to shop around for one with better pay . This expression alludes to looking in different stores in search of bargains or a particular item. [c. 1920]
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Look for a buyer for, offer for sale to various parties, as in The company is now being actively shopped around . [Second half of 1900s]
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.
She advised that homeowners in this position proactively shop around for policies, instead of accepting what the lender provides.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
You may have to shop around, as some lenders don’t offer HELOCs on rental properties.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
Once connected, the agent can book flights, buy movie tickets and shop around for other items on the web.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
According to research from the bank Nationwide, a third of parents said they buy uniform from supermarkets, a third shop around for the best value and 23% purchase larger sizes so items last longer.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
A new regiment moved into the Presidio and a new bunch of soldiers always shop around a good deal before they settle down.
From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck
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.
