Comprehensive Guide to Synonyms of “Procuring”: Definitions, Usage, and Practice

2. Introduction

English is a rich language, offering many ways to express similar ideas with subtle differences. One such versatile word is “procuring”. Whether you’re reading business reports, writing academic essays, or simply trying to diversify your vocabulary, understanding the synonyms and nuanced uses of “procuring” is essential. Mastery of these alternatives not only helps you avoid repetition, but also allows you to convey meaning with greater precision and sophistication.

By learning the synonyms of “procuring” and their correct usage, you’ll enhance your reading comprehension, communicate more effectively, and write with a professional polish. This article is designed for students, advanced ESL/EFL learners, writers, professionals, and English teachers seeking a comprehensive understanding of this vocabulary family.

Here, you’ll find clear definitions, grammatical explanations, categorized synonym lists, usage examples, tables, practice exercises, and advanced insights. Whether you’re preparing for exams, improving professional correspondence, or teaching English, this guide will help you confidently select the most appropriate synonym for any context.

3. Definition Section
4. Structural Breakdown
5. Types or Categories
6. Examples Section
7. Usage Rules
8. Common Mistakes
9. Practice Exercises
10. Advanced Topics
11. FAQ Section
12. Conclusion

3. Definition Section

3.1. What Does “Procuring” Mean?

The verb procuring comes from the Latin procurare (“to take care of, manage”). In modern English, it primarily means “to obtain (something), especially with effort or care.” It can refer to acquiring supplies, resources, or even people for a specific purpose.

Literal use: “Procuring” often means obtaining physical items (e.g., “procuring equipment”).
Figurative use: It can also mean securing opportunities, favors, or agreements.

3.2. Grammatical Classification

Verb (Transitive): Requires a direct object (“procuring supplies”).
Noun: procurement (the act of procuring).
Adjective: procurable (able to be procured).
Adverb: None commonly used.

3.3. Core Function and Usage Contexts

“Procuring” typically acts as a verb (present participle or gerund), serving as the main verb or in verb phrases. It is common in formal contexts—business, law, academia—but can also appear in everyday speech when a more sophisticated word is desired.

Subject: “Procuring the documents was difficult.”
Object: “We spent hours procuring supplies.”
Context: Most frequent in formal, business, or legal language.

3.4. Nuances and Connotations

Positive/Neutral: “Procuring funding for charity.”
Negative: In some legal contexts, it can mean “to facilitate illegal activities” (e.g., “procuring drugs”).
Register: Generally formal or semi-formal.

3.5. Table 1: Core Definitions and Usage Contexts

Word	Definition	Part of Speech	Example Sentence	Typical Context
procuring	Obtaining something, especially with effort or care	Verb (present participle)	She is procuring the necessary permits.	Business, legal, formal writing
procurement	The act or process of procuring	Noun	The procurement of materials took months.	Corporate, government, academic
procured	Obtained or acquired (past)	Verb (past tense)	The company procured new contracts.	Business, formal

4. Structural Breakdown

4.1. Morphological Structure

Base form: procure
Past tense: procured
Present participle: procuring
Noun: procurement
Adjective: procurable

These forms allow “procuring” to be used flexibly in various tenses and grammatical structures.

4.2. Syntactic Patterns

Subject + procure + object: “They procure supplies.”
Subject + be + procuring + object: “She is procuring documents.”
Can take direct objects: “Procuring equipment”
Indirect objects (less common): “Procuring him a job”

Synonyms often follow similar syntactic patterns but may differ in object types.

4.3. Collocations

procuring supplies/materials/equipment
procuring services
procuring funding/permits
procuring resources/contracts

Some synonyms, like acquire or get, have overlapping but not identical collocations.

4.4. Table 2: Morphological Forms and Sentence Patterns

Form	Example Sentence
procure (base)	The team will procure the necessary equipment.
procured (past)	They procured a rare artifact last year.
procuring (present participle)	She is procuring resources for the project.
procurement (noun)	Procurement of quality materials is vital.
procurable (adjective)	These items are easily procurable online.

5. Types or Categories

5.1. Synonyms by Degree of Formality

Highly formal: procure, obtain, secure, purchase
Neutral: acquire, source, enlist, arrange
Informal/colloquial: get, pick up, land

5.2. Synonyms by Method or Means

By purchase: buy, purchase, acquire
By effort: obtain, secure, get, gain
By request/negotiation: solicit, enlist
By arrangement/facilitation: arrange, source, facilitate

5.3. Synonyms by Context/Field

Business/Procurement: source, purchase, acquire, procure
Legal: obtain, secure
Informal/Everyday: get, pick up, land

5.4. Table 3: Categorized Synonyms with Definitions and Example Sentences

Synonym	Formality	Definition	Example Sentence
procure	Formal	To obtain with effort or care	The company procured advanced machinery.
acquire	Neutral/Formal	To come into possession of	She acquired new skills during her internship.
obtain	Neutral/Formal	To get or gain through some effort	He obtained permission to enter the building.
secure	Formal	To get or achieve (often with effort or negotiation)	They secured funding for the project.
purchase	Formal	To buy, especially formally or officially	We purchased the software license.
buy	Neutral/Informal	To obtain in exchange for money	I bought a new laptop yesterday.
get	Informal	To obtain, receive, or acquire	Can you get some milk on the way home?
source	Neutral	To find or obtain from a particular place or supplier	We sourced materials from local vendors.
enlist	Neutral/Formal	To obtain help or support	She enlisted colleagues to help with the event.
solicit	Formal	To seek or request (often formally)	The organization solicited donations from the public.
arrange	Neutral	To organize or make plans for obtaining something	He arranged a meeting with the supplier.
pick up	Informal	To collect or obtain	I’ll pick up the tickets on my way.
land	Informal	To obtain (especially a job or opportunity)	She landed a great job at the firm.

6. Examples Section

6.1. Basic Examples for Each Synonym

procure: The hospital must procure medical supplies regularly.
The team procured a rare manuscript for the library.
acquire: She acquired fluency in three languages.
The company acquired several smaller firms last year.
obtain: He obtained a visa after several attempts.
The researchers obtained the data through surveys.
secure: They secured a lucrative contract.
She secured a spot in the prestigious program.
purchase: We purchased tickets to the conference.
The agency purchased new office equipment.
buy: I bought a new phone yesterday.
She buys groceries every Saturday.
get: Can you get some water?
He got an internship at a law firm.
source: The chef sources ingredients locally.
The company sourced components from abroad.
enlist: He enlisted the help of volunteers.
She enlisted her friends for the project.
solicit: The nonprofit solicited support from donors.
The school solicited feedback from parents.
arrange: She arranged transportation for the guests.
They arranged for new computers to be delivered.
pick up: I’ll pick up the package after work.
She picked up a souvenir during her trip.
land: He landed a contract with a major client.
She landed a role in the new movie.

6.2. Examples by Register

Formal: The company procured advanced analytics software.
Informal: We got new software for the office.
Formal: She secured the necessary approvals.
Informal: She picked up all the permissions we needed.

6.3. Examples by Context

Business: The procurement team sourced raw materials from multiple suppliers.
Legal: The lawyer obtained critical evidence for the case.
Academic: The researcher acquired access to a specialized database.
Everyday: Can you pick up some milk on your way home?

6.4. Examples by Grammatical Construction

Active voice: She procured the necessary documents.
Passive voice: The necessary documents were procured by her.
With object: He secured a grant.
Without object (intransitive, rare): She worked hard to acquire. (awkward; usually requires an object)

6.5. Comparison Examples

Procure vs. get: The organization procured vaccines for the community. (formal, precise)
The organization got vaccines for the community. (informal, less precise)
Acquire vs. purchase: She acquired a painting at the auction. (may be by purchase or other means)
She purchased a painting at the auction. (by buying)
Secure vs. obtain: He secured the funding. (implies effort or competition)
He obtained the funding. (neutral, less emphasis on effort)

6.6. Table 4: Synonyms in Contextual Sentences

Context	Procure	Acquire	Obtain	Secure	Buy	Get
Business	The firm procured new machinery.	The firm acquired new machinery.	The firm obtained new machinery.	The firm secured new machinery.	The firm bought new machinery.	The firm got new machinery.
Legal	The lawyer procured evidence.	The lawyer acquired evidence.	The lawyer obtained evidence.	The lawyer secured evidence.	(Rare)	(Rare)
Everyday	(Uncommon)	I acquired a bike.	I obtained a bike.	I secured a bike.	I bought a bike.	I got a bike.

6.7. Table 5: Register and Tone Examples

Synonym	Formal Example	Informal Example
procure	The agency procured specialized equipment.	(Rare in informal speech)
acquire	The museum acquired a rare artifact.	I acquired a cool T-shirt at the concert.
obtain	He obtained a permit to build.	I obtained some snacks for the party.
secure	She secured a government grant.	(Rare in informal speech)
purchase	We purchased office furniture.	I purchased a coffee this morning. (less common, formal tone)
buy	The company bought a competitor.	I bought a coffee this morning.
get	I got a promotion. (informal)	I’ll get some milk. (very informal)

6.8. Notes on Idiomatic Uses and Phrasal Verbs

pull strings (to get/procure): He pulled some strings to get that promotion.
come by (to obtain): Good jobs are hard to come by these days.
pick up (to get): I’ll pick up some bread on my way home.
land (to secure): She landed a big client last month.
get hold of: It was difficult to get hold of the original documents.

7. Usage Rules

7.1. Selecting the Right Synonym

Context: Choose based on the formality of the situation.
Nuance: Some synonyms imply effort, legality, or purchase.
Audience: Use formal terms in reports; informal ones in conversation.

7.2. Subject-Verb Agreement and Tense

All key synonyms are regular verbs (procure/procured/procuring, etc.).
Ensure subject-verb agreement (She procures, They procure).

7.3. Using Synonyms with Objects and Complements

Most are transitive verbs: They require a direct object (e.g., “procure supplies”).
Some (get, acquire) can be used intransitively in rare idiomatic expressions.

7.4. Prepositional Patterns

Procure/acquire/obtain from (a source): “Procure from a supplier.”
Secure for (a person or purpose): “Secure funding for the project.”
Solicit from (a group): “Solicit donations from parents.”

7.5. Register and Appropriateness

Use procure, obtain, secure, purchase in formal writing.
Use buy, get, pick up in informal contexts.
Avoid “procure” in casual conversation unless a formal tone is intended.

7.6. Table 6: Usage Rules and Typical Patterns

Synonym	Common Patterns	Register	Notes
procure	procure + object; procure from	Formal	Implies effort, official process
acquire	acquire + object; acquire through	Neutral/Formal	Neutral tone, broad use
obtain	obtain + object; obtain by/through	Neutral/Formal	Emphasizes process
secure	secure + object; secure for	Formal	Implies challenge, competition
purchase	purchase + object; purchase from	Formal	Official buying
buy	buy + object; buy for/from	Informal/Neutral	Everyday transactions
get	get + object; get from	Informal	Very common in speech

7.7. Common Exceptions and Irregular Patterns

Purchase is not used for non-material things (e.g., “purchase experience” is incorrect).
Procure has a negative sense in some legal contexts (e.g., “procuring illegal substances”).
Get is too informal for academic or business writing.

8. Common Mistakes

8.1. Incorrect Substitution

Some synonyms cannot always be swapped without changing the meaning or register.

Incorrect: I procured a coffee this morning. (awkward; use “bought” or “got”)
Correct: I bought a coffee this morning.

8.2. Register Mismatches

Incorrect: The CEO got a contract with IBM. (too informal)
Correct: The CEO secured a contract with IBM.

8.3. Collocation Errors

Incorrect: We acquired a taxi. (should be “got” or “took” a taxi)
Correct: We got a taxi.

8.4. Grammar Mistakes

Incorrect: She procure the documents. (subject-verb agreement)
Correct: She procures the documents.

8.5. Table 7: Common Mistakes and Corrections

Mistake	Correction	Explanation
I procured a snack.	I got/bought a snack.	“Procure” is too formal for snacks.
He purchased experience.	He gained experience.	“Purchase” is not used for intangible things like experience.
She acquire the data.	She acquired the data.	Verb tense error.
They obtained a taxi.	They got a taxi.	“Obtain” is too formal for everyday actions.
We secured some bread.	We bought/got some bread.	“Secure” is too formal for simple purchases.

8.6. Notes on False Friends and Near-Synonyms

Attain (to achieve, not to obtain material things): “attain a goal,” not “attain a book.”
Win (through competition or chance): “win an award,” not “win office supplies.”
Earn (through work, not through purchase): “earn money,” not “earn a ticket.”

9. Practice Exercises

9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank

The team __________ new software for the project. (acquired / solicited)
We __________ donations from local businesses. (solicited / purchased)
She __________ the necessary documents before the deadline. (procured / picked up)
He __________ a visa after a long wait. (obtained / got)
Can you __________ some bread on your way home? (pick up / secure)
The nonprofit __________ support for its campaign. (solicited / bought)
They __________ funding for the new research. (secured / acquired)
I __________ a souvenir during my trip. (got / attained)
The company __________ raw materials from abroad. (sourced / landed)
She __________ a great job at the tech firm. (landed / arranged)

9.2. Synonym Selection

Definition/Context	Best Synonym
To buy something officially	purchase
To get something with effort	procure
To ask for donations	solicit
To find a supplier	source
To get a job (informal)	land

9.3. Error Correction

Incorrect: She purchased experience during her travels.
Correct: ____________________________
Incorrect: We procured some bread from the bakery.
Correct: ____________________________
Incorrect: He got a contract with the government. (formal report)
Correct: ____________________________
Incorrect: They secured a pizza for dinner.
Correct: ____________________________
Incorrect: I obtained a taxi after midnight.
Correct: ____________________________

9.4. Multiple Choice

The university __________ a valuable collection of manuscripts.
a) picked up
b) acquired
c) landed
d) got
The manager __________ new office furniture last week.
a) procured
b) enlisted
c) arranged
d) obtained
The school __________ feedback from parents for the new policy.
a) sourced
b) solicited
c) secured
d) bought
He __________ the necessary permit to build.
a) acquired
b) got
c) obtained
d) all of the above
The chef __________ fresh ingredients from local farms.
a) purchased
b) sourced
c) solicited
d) secured

9.5. Sentence Construction

Write your own sentences using the following synonyms in the correct context:

procure
acquire
secure
solicit
pick up

9.6. Advanced Paraphrasing

Rewrite the following sentences using a suitable synonym for “procuring”/”getting”:

She got a new passport last week.
The company is getting more clients this year.
He got funding for his research.
They got the necessary permissions from the council.
I got a great deal on my car.

9.7. Answers and Explanations

acquired; “Acquired” fits best for obtaining something for a project.
solicited; “Solicited” means to request donations.
procured; “Procured” is formal and fits with “documents.”
obtained; “Obtained” works for a visa obtained after waiting.
pick up; “Pick up” is informal and fits groceries.
solicited; Nonprofits “solicit” support (not buy).
secured; “Secured” fits funding, especially after effort.
got; For souvenirs, “got” is idiomatic and informal.
sourced; Companies “source” materials from suppliers.
landed; “Landed” is idiomatic for getting a job.

Synonym Selection: See table above.

Correct: She gained experience during her travels.
Correct: We bought/got some bread from the bakery.
Correct: He secured a contract with the government.
Correct: They got/bought a pizza for dinner.
Correct: I got a taxi after midnight.

b) acquired; universities “acquire” valuable collections.
a) procured; managers “procure” office furniture.
b) solicited; schools “solicit” feedback.
d) all of the above; all fit the context.
b) sourced; chefs “source” ingredients.

10. Advanced Topics

10.1. Register and Nuance in Professional Writing

In professional writing, the choice among synonyms can subtly influence tone and perceived competence. “Procure” and “secure” suggest careful negotiation or high value. “Acquire” and “obtain” are more neutral. Overusing informal options like “get” can weaken authority.

10.2. Synonyms in Academic and Technical English

Academic and technical writing often prefers “obtain,” “acquire,” or “procure.” For example: “Data were obtained from multiple sources.” Legal documents may use “procure” or “secure” for precise, formal meaning.

10.3. Etymological Insights

Procure: Latin procurare (“to care for, manage”).
Acquire: Latin acquirere (“to gain, get”).
Obtain: Latin obtinere (“to hold, possess”).
Secure: Latin securus (“free from care”).

These origins often shape current connotations and usage.

10.4. Cross-Linguistic Comparison

Non-native speakers should beware of “false friends.” For example, French “procurer” is a direct cognate, but German “bekommen” (to get) is not always appropriate for formal English. Translation must consider context, register, and connotation.

10.5. Synonyms in Idiomatic and Figurative Language

Land a job: To successfully get a job.
Pull strings: To use influence to procure something.
Come by: To obtain, often with difficulty.

Such expressions often replace “procuring” in conversational English.

11. FAQ Section

What is the precise difference between “procure” and “acquire”?
“Procure” emphasizes effort, formality, or special process (e.g., “procure funding”), while “acquire” means simply “to get” and is more neutral.
When should I use “obtain” instead of “get”?
Use “obtain” in formal contexts or when describing a process (“obtain permission”); use “get” in casual speech.
Are there synonyms for “procuring” that are only used in business?
“Procure,” “source,” and “purchase” are common business terms, especially in procurement departments.
Can “procure” be used in informal contexts?
It is rare in casual conversation; more natural alternatives are “get” or “buy.”
What are some synonyms of “procuring” that imply effort or difficulty?
“Secure,” “procure,” and “land” (informal) suggest difficulty or competition.
Is “secure” always a synonym for “procure”?
Only when referring to obtaining something with effort or negotiation; “secure” can also mean “make safe,” which is not a synonym.
How do I know which synonym to use in legal writing?
Use “procure,” “obtain,” or “secure,” and follow standard legal phrasing. Avoid informal words like “get.”
Are there any synonyms of “procuring” that can be used as nouns?
Yes: “procurement” (the act of procuring), “purchase” (the thing bought), “acquisition” (the thing acquired).
Can “procuring” ever have a negative connotation?
Yes, especially in legal contexts (e.g., “procuring drugs” or “procuring prostitution”).
What are common mistakes with “procuring” and its synonyms?
Using overly formal words in casual contexts, incorrect verb forms, and awkward collocations (see Section 8).
How can I expand my vocabulary beyond “procuring”?
Read widely in business, legal, and academic contexts. Practice using synonyms in writing and speech.
What are some phrasal verbs related to “procuring”?
“Pick up” (to collect), “come by” (to obtain), “pull strings” (to use influence).

12. Conclusion

A nuanced understanding of “procuring” and its synonyms empowers you to communicate with greater clarity and sophistication. Remember, the best synonym depends on your context, audience, and the level of formality required.

Use the tables, examples, and exercises in this guide to reinforce your knowledge and practice making the right choices in speaking and writing.

Continue to observe how these words are used in authentic texts and try to incorporate them into your own communication. Mastery comes with practice—so experiment, review your work, and deepen your understanding through active use.

Finally, always consider context, register, and collocation for the most natural and effective English. Use this article as a reference and return whenever you need to refresh or advance your vocabulary skills.