shop
shop
Shop (noun) means a place, physical or online, where goods or services are sold. Example: “The shop on the corner sells newspapers, sweets and birthday cards.”
noun
1
A place, physical or online, where goods or services are sold.
"The shop on the corner sells newspapers, sweets and birthday cards."
"She opened a small flower shop on the high street."
"He ordered the parts from an online shop."
2
A workshop where things are made or repaired.
"My uncle runs a repair shop where he mends old radios."
"The carpenter spent every morning in his shop building chairs."
"The car was in the shop getting a new clutch fitted."
verb
1
To visit stores or browse products with a view to buying.
"I like to shop around before buying anything expensive."
"She shops for groceries every Thursday after work."
"We spent the afternoon shopping for a new sofa."
2
To inform on someone to the authorities.
"Nobody wanted to shop their friend, even though he had broken the rules."
"The thief was shopped by a former partner who wanted a lighter sentence."
"His own neighbour shopped him to the police."
How to use shop
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA place to buy things or get work done, or the act of buying/browsing there.
When to use it
"Shop" meaning to inform on someone is British informal slang, not used this way in American English.
Common pairings
shop around
talk shop
closed shop
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like shop.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- shops
- Third person singular
- shops
- Past tense
- shopped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ on the corner sells newspapers, sweets and birthday cards.
Etymology
From Old English sceoppa ("shed, booth, stall"), from an ancient Germanic root for a barn or shed; the verb was formed later from the noun.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for shop
See all rhymes for shop →Frequently asked questions
What does “shop” mean?
The word “shop” means a place, physical or online, where goods or services are sold. In plain terms, a place to buy things or get work done, or the act of buying/browsing there.
How do you pronounce “shop”?
“Shop” is pronounced shop (/ʃɑp/ in IPA).
How do you use “shop” in a sentence?
Here is “shop” used in a sentence: “She opened a small flower shop on the high street.”
What is another word for “shop”?
Words with a similar meaning to “shop” include retail outlet, store, metal shop, metalwork and machine shop.
What part of speech is “shop”?
Depending on how it is used, “shop” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “shop” come from?
The word “shop” comes from Old English. From Old English sceoppa ("shed, booth, stall"), from an ancient Germanic root for a barn or shed; the verb was formed later from the noun.
Is “shop” a common word?
“Shop” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “shop” have?
“Shop” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a place, physical or online, where goods or services are sold.
What is the difference between a shop and a store?
Mostly it is regional. British English favours 'shop' for a place selling goods, while American English usually says 'store.' Where both are used, 'store' can suggest something larger or a place that stocks supplies, and 'shop' something smaller or specialised. 'Shop' also means a workroom, as in a repair shop, which 'store' does not.
Can 'shop' be a verb?
Yes. As a verb, 'to shop' means to visit shops or websites to look at and buy goods — 'we shopped all afternoon' or 'I shop online.' It also appears in phrases like 'shop around,' meaning to compare prices before buying. So 'shop' works as both the place and the activity of buying.
What are the types of shops?
Shops are usually grouped by what they sell or how they operate: grocery, clothing, book, and hardware shops by product; boutiques, chain stores, and department stores by size or style; and physical versus online shops by format. Specialist workrooms such as repair shops and print shops use the word in its 'workspace' sense.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include shop:
