# groceries

/ˈɡɹoʊsɝiz/ (US) · /ɡɹˈəʊsəɹiz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/groceries
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. food and household items

noun · CEFR A2

the food and small household items you buy from a shop or supermarket.

For teachers: the commodities, especially food and cleaning supplies, sold by a grocer or in a supermarket. Plural-only in this sense.

- We need to go to the supermarket because we have no groceries left for dinner.
- After a long week of travel, the couple spent Saturday morning restocking their pantry with fresh groceries and household essentials.

### 2. shops

noun · CEFR B1

more than one small shop that sells food.

For teachers: the plural form of 'grocery', referring to multiple retail establishments that sell food and household goods.

- There are several small groceries in this neighbourhood that sell local fruit.
- The rise of massive supermarkets led to the closure of many independent family-owned groceries in the city centre.

## Examples

- I need to buy some groceries for dinner tonight.
- After work, she stopped at the local market to pick up fresh groceries for the week.
- The rising cost of basic groceries has forced many families to adjust their monthly budgets and seek out more affordable wholesale options.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.