Shopping Actions & Stores — A2 Essential Words

fit /fɪt/ verb A2 Shopping

Meaning: To be the right size and shape for someone or something; also (adjective) healthy and strong.

Example: These shoes fit perfectly.

Another example: The dress fits her well.

Collocations: fit perfectly · fit well · fit into

Synonyms: suit (style), match (size sense), be the right size

Antonyms: be too big/small

Word family: fits (v) · fitting (n/adj) · fitness (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Fitting rooms are its temple. 'Fit' people (healthy) borrow the word from tailoring — bodies built to size.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'If the shoe fits' is the proverb for accepting a criticism that matches.

Register: Neutral — shopping essential.

wrap /ræp/ verb A2 Shopping

Meaning: To cover something completely with paper or cloth, especially a gift; also a sandwich rolled in a flat bread.

Example: She wrapped the gift in gold paper.

Another example: Gift wrap is by the cards.

Collocations: wrap the gift · wrap up · wrapped in paper

Synonyms: cover, pack, roll

Antonyms: unwrap, open

Word family: wraps (n pl) · wrapping (n) · wrapper (n)

⚠ Common mistake: The W is silent: RAP. 'Wrap up' also ends meetings and projects. Birthday seasons run on its paper.

🗣 In spoken American English: Its cousin the tortilla wrap ate the sandwich market.

Register: Neutral — shopping essential.

gift /ɡɪft/ noun A2 Shopping

Meaning: Something given to someone freely, without payment, to please them or celebrate; also a natural talent.

Example: He bought a gift for his mother.

Another example: She has a gift for music.

Collocations: a gift for · gift shop · birthday gift

Synonyms: present, donation (to causes), talent

Word family: gifts (n pl) · gifted (adj — talented)

⚠ Common mistake: Gift and present are twins; 'gifted' students are the talent sense in school form. 'Don't look a gift horse in the mouth' warns against judging presents.

🗣 In spoken American English: Gift cards monetized the not-knowing-what-to-buy problem.

Register: Neutral — shopping essential.

delivery /dɪˈlɪvəri/ noun A2 Shopping

Meaning: The act of bringing letters, packages, or food to a person's home or office; also the way someone gives a speech or a baby is born.

Example: The delivery arrives tomorrow.

Another example: Free delivery on orders over $35.

Collocations: free delivery · delivery time · home delivery

Synonyms: shipping, drop-off, arrival

Antonyms: pickup

Word family: deliveries (n pl) · deliver (v)

⚠ Common mistake: Food apps made it a lifestyle; speeches and babies keep its other senses — context never confuses them.

🗣 In spoken American English: Porch cameras turned it into a daily TV genre.

Register: Neutral — shopping essential.

counter /ˈkaʊntər/ noun A2 Shopping

Meaning: A long flat surface in a shop, bank, or kitchen where people are served or food is prepared; also (verb) to oppose, and a small object used for counting.

Example: Pay at the counter.

Another example: The meat counter is at the back.

Collocations: at the counter · kitchen counter · check-out counter

Synonyms: desk, bar (pub sense), till area

Word family: counters (n pl) · counter (v/adj)

⚠ Common mistake: Kitchen counters hold American breakfasts; shop counters hold its commerce. 'Counter-' builds opposites: counterattack, counteroffer.

🗣 In spoken American English: Diners made its stools famous in paintings — eat 'at the counter' for the classic scene.

Register: Neutral — shopping essential.

try on /traɪ ɒn/ phrasal verb A2 Shopping

Meaning: To put on clothing or shoes to see if they fit and look right before buying.

Example: Try on the jacket before you pay.

Another example: She tried on three dresses.

Collocations: try on · try it on · trying on clothes

Synonyms: test (fit), sample wear

Word family: tries on (v) · tried on (past) · try-on (n/adj)

⚠ Common mistake: The pronoun goes in the middle: 'try IT on' (never 'try on it'). Fitting rooms exist for this verb alone.

🗣 In spoken American English: Online shopping's one weakness — avatars are trying to fix it.

Register: Neutral — shopping essential.

order /ˈɔːrdər/ verb / noun A2 Shopping

Meaning: To ask for food, drinks, or goods to be made or delivered; also an instruction or command, and the arrangement of things in a sequence.

Example: We ordered pizza online.

Another example: The order arrives in two days.

Collocations: order online · order a pizza · in order (sequence)

Synonyms: request, buy (online sense), command

Word family: orders (n pl) · order (v) · ordering (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Waiters, generals, and shoppers share it. 'Out of order' breaks machines; 'in order' arranges everything else.

🗣 In spoken American English: Its confirmation emails are the inbox's confetti.

Register: Neutral — shopping essential.

bag /bæɡ/ noun A2 Shopping

Meaning: A soft container made of paper, plastic, or cloth for carrying things; also to succeed in getting something (informal verb).

Example: Put the apples in the bag.

Another example: The bag is full of books.

Collocations: a shopping bag · in the bag · bag of

Synonyms: sack, carrier, tote

Word family: bags (n pl) · bag (v) · baggy (adj — loose clothes)

⚠ Common mistake: States charge for plastic ones to push the reusable kind. 'In the bag' means the win is certain.

🗣 In spoken American English: Its paper ancestors held every childhood lunch.

Register: Neutral — shopping essential.

change /tʃeɪndʒ/ noun / verb A2 Shopping

Meaning: The money returned when you pay more than the price; coins rather than bills; also to make or become different, and to switch clothes.

Example: Keep the change.

Another example: Here's your change — two dollars.

Collocations: keep the change · small change · change for a twenty

Synonyms: coins, refund difference, swap

Word family: changes (n pl) · change (v) · changing (n)

⚠ Common mistake: At tills, 'change' is both the coins and the leftover money. Life's biggest verb hides in a shop word: everything changes.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'Exact change' signs mourn the coin shortage eras.

Register: Neutral — shopping essential.

offer /ˈɒfər/ verb / noun A2 Shopping

Meaning: To present something for someone to accept or refuse; a proposal or special price.

Example: They offered him the job.

Another example: The store has a special offer this week.

Collocations: offer a job · a special offer · on offer

Synonyms: propose, provide, deal

Antonyms: refuse, withdraw

Word family: offers (n pl) · offering (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Jobs, help, and discounts all get offered. 'On offer' in shops means at a special price this week.

🗣 In spoken American English: Auctions and negotiations are its wrestling rings.

Register: Neutral — shopping essential.