Shopping / B1

BROWZ/braʊz/

To browse is to look without a firm plan to buy: browse the shelves; browse a website. Search is more targeted; skim is for fast reading. A browser is the software (next entry). Do not say browse when you mean research a specific fact — that is look up / search. Window-shopping is the high-street twin.

Meaning

To look at things in a shop or on a website without a clear plan to buy.

Examples

• “You can browse the catalogue before you register.”
• “You can browse the catalogue before you create an account.”
• “She browsed the library stacks and then chose two titles for the essay.”

Good to know

browse a shop / website / catalogue. Targeted: search / look up. Fast reading: skim. Software: browser.

Topics

New