Shopping List: Definition, Examples & Usage

Meaning 1：list of items to buy (shopping list)

shopping list 🔊

/ˈʃɒpɪŋ lɪst/

A paper or digital list that shows the items you plan to buy when you go shopping.

Person holding a handwritten shopping list in a supermarket

list of items to buy 🔊

➕

/lɪst əv ˈaɪtəmz tə baɪ/

A written or digital list that contains the items one intends to purchase, typically during a trip to a store.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Combination of 'shop' (verb meaning to buy goods) and 'list' (a series of items).

💡 Mnemonic

Think: 'Shop' + 'List' = a list you take shopping!

📖 Example

My mom always checks the fridge before writing her shopping list for the week. 🔊 My mom always checks the fridge before writing her shopping list for the week.

🔗 Collocations

make a shopping list – create a list of items to buy

check the shopping list – review or verify the list of items

add to the shopping list – include an item on the list

🔄 Synonyms

grocery list (n.) – a list of food and household items to buy

to-do list (n.) – a list of tasks to complete, sometimes used for shopping

checklist (n.) – a list of items to be checked or verified

📖 Cultural Story

The concept of a shopping list has been used for centuries to help people remember what to buy. In modern culture, it is a common tool for grocery shopping and household management.