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

Noun

• reserve
• supply
• hoard
• cache
• collection

Adjective

• 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

The agency responsible for building, maintaining, and storing America's nuclear weapons faces an internal review of its costly effort to reestablish mass production of nuclear warhead cores. —Davis Winkie, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025

In my experience, the processes of manufacturing, storing and shipping products in DR free zones typically lack the coordination challenges that plague many multi-site operations. —Morten Johansen, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025

Noun

Mall fashion accessories store chain Claire’s will close more than 290 stores, including some shops in Indiana, as part of its bankruptcy process. —IndyStar, 30 Aug. 2025

How many Ross stores are in Tennessee? Ross stores can be found across the Volunteer State. —Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 30 Aug. 2025

Adjective

The store cuts come months after Kroger announced two rounds of layoffs of an unspecified number of non-store workers this spring. —Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 June 2025

Closures come after two rounds of layoffs The store closures come months after Kroger announced two rounds of layoffs of an unspecified number of non-store workers this spring. —Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 29 Nov. 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

Rhymes for store

• boar
• boer
• bore
• chore
• cor
• core
• corps
• crore
• door
• drawer
• floor
• flor

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