# store

/ˈstɔɹ/ (US) · /stˈɔː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/store
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a shop

noun · CEFR A1 · American English

a place where you can buy goods or services.

For teachers: a retail establishment where merchandise is sold to customers.

- I need to go to the grocery store to buy some milk and bread.
- The flagship store occupies three floors of the historic building, attracting thousands of tourists every weekend.

Usage: In British English, 'shop' is more common for small businesses, while 'store' often refers to large department stores.

### 2. a supply or collection

noun · CEFR B1

a large amount of something that is kept for future use.

For teachers: a quantity of something kept available for use as needed.

- The squirrels have a large store of nuts hidden for the winter.
- The library holds a vast store of information regarding the local history of the county.

Usage: Often used in the plural form 'stores' when referring to military or emergency supplies.

### 3. to keep for later

verb · CEFR A2

to put something away in a safe place until you need it.

For teachers: to keep or accumulate something for future use, typically in a designated location.

- You should store your winter clothes in boxes under the bed.
- The warehouse is designed to store perishable goods at a constant temperature to prevent spoilage.

### 4. to save digital data

verb · CEFR B1

to keep information on a computer or a phone.

For teachers: to record or copy data into a computer's memory or onto a storage device.

- The phone can store thousands of high-quality photos.
- The system is configured to store user preferences in a local database for faster access during future sessions.

## Examples

- I need to go to the grocery store to buy some milk.
- The hikers kept a large store of water in their vehicle in case they got lost in the desert.
- The retail chain decided to close its flagship store after several years of declining foot traffic and rising overhead costs.

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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.