shop around: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighInformal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “shop around” mean?
To compare prices, quality, or terms from different sellers before making a purchase or decision.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To compare prices, quality, or terms from different sellers before making a purchase or decision.
To research or investigate various options, opportunities, or alternatives in any domain before committing to one.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Spelling conventions for related terms apply (e.g., 'shopped', 'shopping').
Connotations
Equally common and neutral in both varieties. Slightly more informal than 'compare prices'.
Frequency
Very frequent in both, with near-identical usage patterns.
Grammar
How to Use “shop around” in a Sentence
Shop around (intransitive)Shop around for [something] (transitive prep.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shop around” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- You should shop around for your home insurance to get the best cover.
- I shopped around a bit before buying my new laptop.
American English
- We need to shop around for a new contractor before we decide.
- He spent the afternoon shopping around for a better deal on his phone plan.
adjective
British English
- A shop-around approach saved us hundreds of pounds.
American English
- Take a shop-around attitude when looking for a mortgage.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in consumer advice, procurement ('We shopped around for a new supplier'), and financial services ('Shop around for a better mortgage rate').
Academic
Rare, except in consumer behaviour studies as an informal term for 'pre-purchase information search'.
Everyday
Very common for discussing purchases of goods (cars, electronics), services (insurance, broadband), and opportunities (jobs, universities).
Technical
Not typically used in highly technical registers; more common in consumer-facing technical advice (e.g., 'Shop around for web hosting').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “shop around”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “shop around”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shop around”
- Using it transitively without 'for' (e.g., *'I shopped around a car'* instead of '...for a car').
- Confusing with 'go shopping', which lacks the specific comparative element.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely. It is very commonly used for services like insurance, banking, utilities, and contractors.
'Browse' suggests looking casually without a specific goal of comparison or immediate purchase. 'Shop around' is purposeful, aimed at making a direct comparison to inform a decision.
Yes, it is an intransitive or prepositional phrasal verb (shop around for something).
It is acceptable in most business contexts but leans informal. In very formal writing (e.g., a legal contract), 'solicit competing bids', 'conduct a comparative analysis', or 'evaluate multiple vendors' might be preferred.
To compare prices, quality, or terms from different sellers before making a purchase or decision.
Shop around: in British English it is pronounced /ˌʃɒp əˈraʊnd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌʃɑːp əˈraʊnd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Shop around until you drop (playful extension)”
- “Do your homework (metaphorical equivalent)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SHOP with prices ON A ROUND-about; you go around it to compare all the prices before choosing an exit.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONSUMER ACTIVITY IS EXPLORATION (You 'go around' the marketplace to map out the options).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of 'shopping around'?