stock
stok
Stock (noun) means the goods a shop or business keeps available to sell. Example: “The bookshop orders fresh stock every Monday so the shelves never look empty.”
noun
1
The goods a shop or business keeps available to sell.
"The bookshop orders fresh stock every Monday so the shelves never look empty."
"The store is out of stock on that size."
"They keep a large stock of spare parts in the warehouse."
2
A share representing partial ownership in a company.
"My aunt holds stock in a small family-run firm."
"When the company grew, the value of its stock rose."
"He bought stock in a tech company last year."
3
A liquid made by simmering bones, meat, or vegetables, used as a base for soups and sauces.
"I add a ladle of vegetable stock to the risotto slowly."
"Freeze any spare stock in small tubs for later soups."
"Simmer the chicken bones to make a rich stock."
verb
1
To keep a supply of something available, especially for sale.
"Most corner shops stock milk, bread and basic cleaning supplies."
"Our cafe stocks several kinds of herbal tea for customers."
"The pharmacy stocks a wide range of vitamins."
adj
1
Standard or unmodified; the ordinary, default version of something.
"He swapped the stock wheels for larger ones."
"The bike comes with a stock seat, but you can upgrade it."
"The car still has its stock exhaust system."
How to use stock
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDepending on context: goods for sale, a company share, a cooking base, or "standard/unmodified."
Common mistake
Don't confuse financial "stock" (a share) with "stocks" (the historical punishment device) or "stockpile" (a hoarded supply).
Common pairings
in stock
out of stock
buy stock
chicken stock
a stock answer
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Word forms
- Plural
- stocks
- Third person singular
- stocks
- Past tense
- stocked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bookshop orders fresh _____ every Monday so the shelves never look empty.
Etymology
From Old English stocc, "tree trunk" — the sense of "supply" or "goods" grew out of the idea of a stockpile or storehouse.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for stock
See all rhymes for stock →Frequently asked questions
What does “stock” mean?
The word “stock” means the goods a shop or business keeps available to sell. In plain terms, depending on context: goods for sale, a company share, a cooking base, or "standard/unmodified.".
How do you pronounce “stock”?
“Stock” is pronounced stok (/stɑk/ in IPA).
How do you use “stock” in a sentence?
Here is “stock” used in a sentence: “The store is out of stock on that size.”
What part of speech is “stock”?
Depending on how it is used, “stock” can be a noun, a verb and an adjective.
Where does the word “stock” come from?
The word “stock” comes from Old English. From Old English stocc, "tree trunk" — the sense of "supply" or "goods" grew out of the idea of a stockpile or storehouse.
Is “stock” a common word?
“Stock” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “stock” have?
“Stock” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the goods a shop or business keeps available to sell.
What is the difference between stock and inventory?
The two overlap and are often used interchangeably. "Stock" usually means the finished goods a shop keeps ready to sell to customers. "Inventory" is a broader term covering all goods a business holds, including raw materials and work in progress. In everyday shop talk, they mean much the same thing.
What does it mean to be out of stock?
"Out of stock" means a shop or business has temporarily sold all of a particular item and has none left to sell. The product still exists and will usually be reordered, unlike "discontinued," which means it will not return. "In stock" means it is available to buy now.
What is the difference between stock and stocks?
In this sense, "stock" means the goods a shop has for sale. "Stocks," by contrast, usually refers to shares — units of ownership in a company traded on the stock market. The two meanings are unrelated, so context matters: a warehouse holds stock, an investor buys stocks.
What is an example of stock?
The tins of soup on a supermarket shelf, the clothes hanging in a boutique, and the boxes of spare parts in a warehouse are all stock. Anything a business keeps on hand ready to sell to customers counts — from a single item to an entire storeroom.
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