shopping
shopping
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "shopping" is /ˈʃɒpɪŋ/.
First syllable (shop-): /ʃɒp/
/ʃ/ - voiceless postalveolar fricative (like "sh" in "shoe")
/ɒ/ - open-mid back rounded vowel (like "o" in "pot" in British English, or "a" in "father" in some American accents)
/p/ - voiceless bilabial plosive (like "p" in "pat")
Second syllable (-ping): /ɪŋ/
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel (like "i" in "kit")
/ŋ/ - voiced velar nasal (like "ng" in "sing")
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: shopping
Plural: The word "shopping" itself functions as a collective or uncountable noun in many contexts and does not typically have a plural form in the sense of "many shoppings." However, one might refer to "shopping trips" or "shopping experiences."
Verb (from which "shopping" is derived):
Base Form: shop
Third Person Singular Present: shops
Past Simple: shopped
Past Participle: shopped
Present Participle/Gerund: shopping
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
The activity of buying goods from stores or online.
Synonyms: purchasing, buying, acquiring, provisioning, marketing (archaic for buying provisions)
Antonyms: selling, divesting, relinquishing, offloading
Example: "We spent the entire afternoon doing our holiday shopping."
The goods themselves that have been or are to be purchased.
Synonyms: purchases, acquisitions, buys, merchandise
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for goods themselves in this context, but rather for the act of selling them)
Example: "Please help me carry the shopping in from the car."
Verb (Present Participle/Gerund of "to shop")
Engaging in the act of visiting stores, websites, or markets to look for and buy goods.
Synonyms: Browse, buying, acquiring, procuring, purchasing
Antonyms: selling, vending, offloading, divesting
Example: "She enjoys shopping for vintage clothes on weekends."
To inform on someone, especially to the authorities, often for a reward.
Synonyms: informing, snitching, tattling, ratting out, turning in
Antonyms: protecting, covering for, concealing, shielding
Example: "He was accused of shopping his accomplices to the police."
Examples of Use
Books:
"He spent hours online, aimlessly shopping for new electronics, a habit he'd developed during the lockdown." (From a contemporary novel exploring modern life)
"The local market was a hub of activity, a place where generations had come for their weekly shopping, bartering for fresh produce and gossip." (Describing a historical setting in a non-fiction book)
Newspapers:
"Black Friday shopping surged this year, with consumers flocking to both brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce sites for deals." (The New York Times)
"Local businesses are urging residents to do their holiday shopping within the community to support the struggling economy." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"Our guide to ethical shopping helps you make informed choices about the products you buy and the companies you support." (Treehugger.com)
"Is impulse shopping a sign of a deeper issue, or just a harmless indulgence? Experts weigh in." (PsychologyToday.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "I'm just going out for some shopping, be back in an hour!" (A common line heard in many romantic comedies or dramas when a character leaves the house.)
Television Series: "Welcome to 'Extreme Couponing,' where contestants compete to get the most shopping for the least amount of money." (From a reality television show)
Video Games: "Your character has successfully completed the mission and can now proceed to the vendor for some item shopping." (Text in an RPG video game)
Music: "I'm in love with the feeling, midnight shopping, heels on the ceiling." (Lyrics from a popular pop song)
Podcasts: "This week on 'Money Matters,' we discuss smart shopping strategies to save on groceries without sacrificing quality." (From a financial advice podcast)
General Public Discourse:
"Are you done with your Christmas shopping yet?" (Common question asked during the holiday season)
"I need to go shopping for some new shoes; mine are completely worn out." (Everyday conversation)
"Online shopping has made it so convenient, but I do miss the experience of Browse in actual stores." (A common sentiment expressed in discussions about retail)
"The government agency was accused of shopping the sensitive intelligence to foreign powers." (Used in a more serious context, referring to informing on someone or selling information)
10 Quotes Using Shopping
"I always say shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist." (Tammy Faye Bakker)
"I love shopping. There is a little bit of magic found in buying something new. It is a little portal to a happier you." (Jayne Mansfield)
"I went shopping today. I got a little tired, but I did it." (Muhammad Ali)
"Happiness is not in money, but in shopping." (Marilyn Monroe - While often attributed, this exact quote's direct source is debated. It captures a sentiment attributed to her love for fashion and luxury.)
"A man's idea of a perfect day is going shopping with his wife, and she gets lost." (Unknown - This is a common humorous quote found in popular culture, not attributable to a single famous person.)
"I am a firm believer that you can make a good living from bad habits. I believe in gambling, drinking, and shopping." (Amy Winehouse)
"I'm not a big fan of shopping for clothes, but I love shopping for food." (Oprah Winfrey)
"My theory on shopping is if you're not sweating, you're not doing it right." (Nicole Richie)
"Shopping is my cardio." (Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City)
"I hate shopping for clothes. I'm one of those people who'll go into a shop and just buy the first thing I see." (Daniel Radcliffe)
Etymology
The word "shopping" comes from the Old English word "scoppa," which meant a booth or a stall where things were sold. Think of it like a small, temporary store.
Over time, this "scoppa" evolved into "shop" in Middle English. The verb "to shop" then developed from this noun, meaning to visit such a place to buy goods.
So, the first known use of "shop" as a noun, meaning a place of business for selling goods, dates back to the late 13th century.
The actual word "shopping" as we use it today – referring to the act of going to buy things – came a bit later. It emerged in the 18th century as the present participle of the verb "to shop." So, while "shop" (the place) has a long history, "shopping" (the activity) became a distinct term for the act of buying goods in the 1700s. It essentially means "the act of going to a shop" or "the act of buying from a shop."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Shopping
Go shopping: To visit stores to buy things.
Window shopping: Looking at items in store windows without intending to buy them.
Retail therapy/Shopping therapy: The act of buying things as a way to cheer oneself up.
Food shopping/Grocery shopping: Buying food and household supplies.
Online shopping: Buying goods over the internet.
Power shopping: Buying a large quantity of items quickly and efficiently.
To shop around: To compare prices or quality from different sellers before buying.
Shop till you drop: To shop for an extended period until exhausted.
Shopping spree: A period of time during which one buys many things.
Shopping cart/trolley: A wheeled basket or cart used for carrying purchases in a store.
Shopping bag: A bag used for carrying purchased items.
Shopping list: A list of items one intends to buy.
Go/Do the shopping: To perform the task of buying provisions or other goods.
Hit the shops: To go out and visit stores.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of shopping from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
