buy

1 of 2

verb

ˈbī 

bought ˈbȯt  ; buying

transitive verb

1

: to acquire possession, ownership, or rights to the use or services of by payment especially of money : purchase

buy a car

buying stock in the company

bought us dinner

2

a

: to obtain in exchange for something often at a sacrifice

They bought peace with their freedom.

b

Christianity : redeem sense 6

bought us with his blood

3

: bribe, hire

buy a public official

4

: to be the purchasing equivalent of

The dollar buys less today than it used to.

5

: accept, believe

I don't buy that hooey.

—often used with into

buy into a compromise

intransitive verb

: to make a purchase

Now is a good time to buy.

buy

2 of 2

noun

1

: something of value at a favorable price

especially : bargain

It's a real buy at that price.

2

: an act of acquiring possession, ownership, or rights to the use or services of something by payment especially of money : an act of buying (see buy entry 1 sense 1) : purchase

an undercover drug buy

Phrases

buy into

: to purchase a portion of or interest in

the TV network bought into its local football team

buy it or buy the farm

: to get killed : die

buy time

: to delay an imminent action or decision : stall

Synonyms

Verb

• cop [slang]
• pick up
• purchase
• take

Noun

• bargain
• deal
• pennyworth
• snip [British]
• steal

Examples of buy in a Sentence

Verb

I bought this hat for $10.

He bought the quilt from a local artist.

Stock prices are low, so now is a good time to buy.

He said it was a mistake, but I don't buy it.

Noun

four cartons of ice cream for four dollars is a real buy

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Amazon has quietly become one of the cheapest places to buy smartphones in recent months. —Janhoi McGregor, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

The Chanel’s compact mirror caught my attention in 2021 during a viral TikTok challenge where fashion aficionados bought the cheapest thing from their favorite luxury houses like Chanel, YSL, Louis Vuitton, and Dior. —Rachel Besser, Vogue, 17 Dec. 2024

Noun

The Street is mostly bullish on the name as well, with 11 out of 15 analysts covering the retailer having a strong buy or buy rating, per LSEG. —Sean Conlon, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2024

These events have garnered substantial pay-per-view buys, contributing significantly to his earnings. —Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English byen, from Old English bycgan; akin to Goth bugjan to buy

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing buy

• bring-and-buy sale
• buy a pup
• buy-down
• buy-in
• buy off
• buy one's way
• buy out
• buy up
• option to buy

Kids Definition

buy

1 of 2 verb

ˈbī 

bought ˈbȯt  ; buying

1

: to get by paying money for : purchase

2

: to gain control over by bribery

buy votes

3

: believe sense 3

I don't buy that nonsense

buyer

ˈbī(-ə)r 

noun

buy

2 of 2 noun

: bargain entry 1 sense 2