buy

1 of 2

verb

bought ˈbȯt How to pronounce buy (audio) ; 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

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
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.
Verb
In essence, people who lease a car today are helping to buy Tesla a fleet for tomorrow. Dev Patnaik, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025 But still, there’s nothing like the nerves of showing up on your first day of any job, let alone to have to shoot your most important scenes that really determined whether people buy into the movie or not. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2025
Noun
Federal prosecutors in San Diego said more than 150 law enforcement agents took part in the operation, which was the culmination of a 16-month investigation that had involved undercover drug buys, covert surveillance and wiretaps. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025 The new product will be launched in the coming weeks and will be scaled to all Walmart channels by the holiday season, likely leaving it the retailer’s only buy now, pay later option by year-end. Hugh Son, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for buy

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of buy was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Buy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buy. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

buy

1 of 2 verb
bought ˈbȯt How to pronounce buy (audio) ; 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 noun

buy

2 of 2 noun

More from Merriam-Webster on buy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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