buoy

1 of 2

noun

1
: float sense 2
especially, nautical : a floating object moored to the bottom to mark a channel or something (such as a shoal) lying under the water
swam out toward the buoy
2

Illustration of buoy

Illustration of buoy
  • buoy 1

buoy

2 of 2

verb

buoyed; buoying; buoys

transitive verb

1
: to mark by or as if by a float or buoy
buoy an anchor
2
a
: to keep afloat
a raft buoyed by empty oil drums
b
: support, uplift
an economy buoyed by the dramatic postwar growth of industryTime
3
: to raise the spirits of
usually used with up
hope buoys him up

intransitive verb

: float
usually used with up
They buoyed up like a cork.

Examples of buoy in a Sentence

Verb The tax breaks should help to buoy the economy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Data is also collected from instruments aboard commercial aircraft, surface observing stations, satellites, radars, and buoys. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025 Most countries don’t have the sweeping satellite and buoy technology that America takes for granted. Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
Sophomore star Hannah Hidalgo often had buoyed the offense in the early months. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025 Optimism among company chief financial officers dropped in the first quarter as tariff risks and uncertainty began to cloud an outlook among business executives that had been buoyed by President Donald Trump's election victory, according to a survey by two Federal Reserve banks and Duke University. Howard Schneider, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for buoy

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English boye, probably from Middle Dutch boeye; akin to Old High German bouhhan sign — more at beacon

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1596, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of buoy was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Buoy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buoy. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

buoy

1 of 2 noun
1
: a floating object anchored in a body of water to mark a channel or warn of danger
2

buoy

2 of 2 verb
1
: to keep from sinking : keep afloat
2
: to brighten the mood of
the news buoyed him up

More from Merriam-Webster on buoy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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