MEANING
1. To draw the lips tightly together, often into a small rounded shape.
2. A small container for money, or, especially in American English, a handbag.
3. Money available for a particular purpose, including the amount offered as a sporting prize.
Use it for
showing restrained disapproval without dialogue; describing tightened lips during concentration; portraying a small controlled facial movement; suggesting hesitation without naming an emotionSupplies a precise restrained lip movement while preserving the word’s ordinary container and financial meanings. Writing functions: Body language.
Words that belong together
- purse your lips
- pursed lips
- purse the mouth
On the page
She pursed her lips at the corrected figures but said nothing.
He pursed his lips while fitting the broken pieces together.
She opened her purse and counted out the fare in coins.
He noticed the purse hanging from the back of her chair.
The restoration would place a heavy demand on the public purse.
Word forms
- Base
- purse
- Past tense
- pursed
- Past participle
- pursed
- Present participle
- pursing
Usage notes
Verb: purse, purses, pursed, pursed, pursing; future will purse. Usually purse your lips. Noun: purse/purses. Regional money-container and handbag uses are noted below. Register: neutral. Commonness: common (qualitative editorial estimate, informed by dictionaries/corpus).
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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