Verb form

shopping

1. Present participle of to shop.

Noun

Singular shopping

Plural uncountable

shopping (uncountable)

1. The activity of buying food, clothes, and other household needs at the local shops.

   On Saturdays we usually do the shopping.

2. The things bought.

   I carried three heavy bags of shopping up the stairs.

Shopping is the examining of goods or services from retailers with the intent to purchase at that time. Shopping is an activity of selection and/or purchase. In some contexts it is considered a leisure activity as well as an economic one.

Shopping in ancient societies

Shopping can be traced back to many civilisations in history. In ancient Rome, there was Trajan's Market with tabernas that served as retailing units. Shopping lists are known to be used by Romans as one was discovered by Hadrian's wall dated back to 75-125 AD and written for a soldier.