UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈbaɪ/, /ˈbɔːt/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/baɪ/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(bī)
buy/baɪ/USA pronunciationv.,bought/bɔt/USA pronunciation buy•ing,n. v.
to get possession of (something), esp. by paying money; purchase: [~ + object]She bought a new computer.[~ + object + object]She bought him a new computer.[~ + object + for + a noun showing an amount]She bought the computer for only $499.[no object]He buys at low prices.
to obtain by exchange or sacrifice: [~ + object]to buy favor with flattery; Victory can only be bought with bloodshed.[~ + object + object][Buy me some happiness.]
to bribe:[~ + object]The senator claimed he couldn't be bought.
[~ + object; not: be + ~-ing] to equal (some amount of) purchasing power: A dollar doesn't buy much these days.
Informal Terms[~ + object]Informal. to accept or believe: I don't buy that explanation.
Businessbuy into,[~ + into + object] to purchase a share in:He bought into the syndicate deal for the construction of new downtown housing.
buy off, to get rid of (a claim, etc.) by payment; to bribe: [~ + object + off]See if you can buy him off.[~ + off + object]Buy off as many politicians as you can.
Businessbuy out,
[~ + out + object] to purchase (shares in a company) so as to gain control of:He bought out the company and tried to resell it.
to purchase all the business shares belonging to (another): [~ + object + out]When the businessman retired, his partner bought him out.[~ + out + object]They bought out all the other partners.
buy up, to buy as much of (something) as is available: [~ + up + object]bought up all the oil on the market.[~ + object + up]They tried to buy it all up.
Idioms, Slang Termsbuy time, [Informal.]to put off some action or decision: [no object][tried to buy time by making conversation while he tried to remember her name.][buy + object + time][Buy me some time while I figure out what to say.]
to acquire the possession of, or the right to, by paying or promising to pay an equivalent, esp. in money; purchase.
to acquire by exchange or concession:to buy favor with flattery.
to hire or obtain the services of:The Yankees bought a new center fielder.
to bribe:Most public officials cannot be bought.
to be the monetary or purchasing equivalent of:Ten dollars buys less than it used to.
[Chiefly Theol.]to redeem; ransom.
Games[Cards.]to draw or be dealt (a card):He bought an ace.
Informal Terms
to accept or believe:I don't buy that explanation.
to be deceived by:He bought the whole story.
v.i.
to be or become a purchaser.
Banking, Businessbuy down, to lower or reduce (the mortgage interest rate) by means of a buy-down.
Businessbuy in:
to buy a supply of; accumulate a stock of.
to buy back one's own possession at an auction.
to undertake a buy-in. Also, buy into.
Businessbuy into, to purchase a share, interest, or membership in:They tried to buy into the club but were not accepted.
buy it, [Slang.]to get killed:He bought it at Dunkirk.
buy off, to get rid of (a claim, opposition, etc.) by payment; purchase the noninterference of; bribe:The corrupt official bought off those who might expose him.
Businessbuy out, to secure all of (an owner or partner's) share or interest in an enterprise:She bought out an established pharmacist and is doing very well.
buy up, to buy as much as one can of something or as much as is offered for sale:He bought up the last of the strawberries at the fruit market.
n.
an act or instance of buying.
something bought or to be bought; purchase:That coat was a sensible buy.
a bargain:The couch was a real buy.
bef. 1000; Middle English byen, variant of byggen, buggen, Old English bycgan; cognate with Old Saxon buggjan, Gothic bugjan to buy, Old Norse byggja to lend, rent
buy′a•ble, adj.
1.Buy,purchase imply obtaining or acquiring property or goods for a price. Buy is the common and informal word, applying to any such transaction:to buy a house, vegetables at the market.Purchase is more formal and may connote buying on a larger scale, in a finer store, and the like:to purchase a year's supplies.
to acquire by paying or promising to pay a sum of money or the equivalent; purchase
to be capable of purchasing: money can't buy love
to acquire by any exchange or sacrifice: to buy time by equivocation
(intransitive) to act as a buyer
to bribe or corrupt; hire by or as by bribery
slangto accept as true, practical, etc
(intransitive) followed byinto: to purchase shares of (a company): we bought into General Motors
(transitive) (esp of Christ) to ransom or redeem (a Christian or the soul of a Christian)
have bought it ⇒ slangto be killed
n
a purchase (often in the phrases good or bad buy)
Etymology: Old English bycgan; related to Old Norse byggja to let out, lend, Gothic bugjan to buyUSAGE The use of off after buy as in I bought this off my neighbour was formerly considered incorrect, but is now acceptable in informal contexts
'buy' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):