store

1 of 3

verb

ˈstȯr 

stored; storing

transitive verb

1

: lay away, accumulate

store vegetables for winter use

an organism that absorbs and stores DDT

2

: furnish, supply

especially : to stock against a future time

store a ship with provisions

3

: to place or leave in a location (such as a warehouse, library, or computer memory) for preservation or later use or disposal

4

: to provide storage room for : hold

elevators for storing surplus wheat

storable

ˈstȯr-ə-bəl 

adjective

store

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: something that is stored or kept for future use

b

stores plural : articles (as of food) accumulated for some specific object and drawn upon as needed : stock, supplies

c

: something that is accumulated

d

: a source from which things may be drawn as needed : a reserve fund

2

: storage

—usually used with in

when placing eggs in store

—Dublin Sunday Independent

3

: value, importance

set great store by a partner's opinion

4

: a large quantity, supply, or number : abundance

5

a

: storehouse, warehouse

b

chiefly British : memory sense 4

6

: a business establishment where usually diversified goods are kept for retail sale

a grocery store

compare shop

store

3 of 3

adjective

1

or stores : of, relating to, kept in, or used for a store

2

: purchased from a store as opposed to being natural or homemade : manufactured, ready-made

store clothes

store bread

Phrases

in store

: in readiness : in preparation

there's a surprise in store for you

Synonyms

Verb

• keep
• put up
• reposit
• stow

Noun

• cache
• deposit
• hoard
• reserve

Adjective

• bought
• mass-produced
• off-the-peg [chiefly British]
• off-the-rack
• off-the-shelf
• ready-made
• store-bought

Examples of store in a Sentence

Verb

I stored my furniture until I found a new apartment.

She stores her jewels in a safe.

The wine should be stored at room temperature.

The solar panels store energy.

They're studying how our brains store memories.

Noun

I'm going to the store to buy groceries.

The stores are always crowded around the holiday season.

Adjective

preferred homemade bread to store brands

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Instead, write it down on paper and store it in a locked box, safe, or other secure physical location. —Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024

In heavy rains, the city on the hill cannot store all the storm runoff and sewage that flows toward an oceanside treatment plant in a single old pipe, so some heads out to sea. —Tom Philp, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024

Noun

The first Home Depot stores later opened in 1979 in Atlanta, and the franchise eventually employed 500,000 associates, according to the company's statement. —Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024

Australian fast fashion retailer Princess Polly is to make its store debut in New York City next year as the company announced a new 8,000-sq.ft. store at 514 Broadway in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood, opening early 2025. —Mark Faithfull, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Adjective

The National Retail Federation expects U.S. online and non-store sales this year to grow as much as 23% from 2020, to roughly $1.13 trillion, the trade group said in June. —Angus Loten, WSJ, 27 Oct. 2021

And online and other non-store sales are expected to increase between 10% and 12%. —Ivana Pino, Fortune, 20 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French estorer to establish, restore, supply, from Latin instaurare to resume, restore

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing store

• chain store
• cold store
• consignment store
• convenience store
• department store
• dime store
• dollar store
• general store
• grocery store
• in store
• mind the store
• multiple store
• package store
• pre-store
• put considerable store in/by
• set great store by/on
• set/lay great store by
• set store by
• set store on
• shop the store
• store-bought
• store brand
• store card
• store cheese
• variety store

Kids Definition

store

1 of 3 verb

ˈstō(ə)r 

ˈstȯ(ə)r

stored; storing

1

: lay away, accumulate

store vegetables for winter use

2

: to provide with what is needed : furnish, supply

store a ship with provisions

3

a

: to deposit in a place (as a warehouse) for safekeeping or disposal

stored my furniture until I found a new apartment

b

: to record information in a device (as a computer)

4

: to provide storage room for : hold

racks for storing basketballs

store

2 of 3 noun

1

a

: something stored

a store of good jokes

b

plural : accumulated supplies (as of food) : stock

a ship's stores

2

: value entry 1 sense 3, importance

a family that set great store by tradition

3

: a place where goods are sold : shop

store

3 of 3 adjective

: purchased from a store : ready-made

store clothes

store bread