Procure Meaning
/pɹəˈkjʊə/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo acquire or obtain.
verbTo obtain a person as a prostitute for somebody else.
Sentence Examples
Where did you procure the information?
This decision was a self-serving measure designed to procure immunity from prosecution.
I lost my passport. I have to procure a new one.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The chef will ____ fresh ingredients from the local market early every morning.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The army needed to ____ additional supplies before the winter campaign could begin.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English procuren, from Old French procurer, from Late Latin prōcūrāre (“to manage, administer”), from prō (“on behalf of”) + cūrō (“to care for”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"if we procure not to ourselves more woe"
— 1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
"Later there would also be need for seeds and artificial manures, besides various tools and, finally, the machinery for the windmill. How these were to be procured, no one was able to imagine."
— 1943 November – 1944 February (date written; published 1945 August 17), George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], Animal Farm […], London: Secker & Warburg, published May 1962, →OCLC:
"Folkestone: Network Rail and the White Cliffs Countryside Project have procured a herd of goats to keep vegetation on the slopes of Folkestone Warren under control, and to encourage rare species."
— 2025 February 5, Howard Johnston, “Regional News: Southern”, in RAIL, number 1028, page 22:
"By all means possible they procure to have gold and silver among them in reproach."
— 1551, Thomas More, translated by Ralph Robinson, Utopia:
"Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall."
— c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The chef will ____ fresh ingredients from the local market early every morning.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The army needed to ____ additional supplies before the winter campaign could begin.