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buoy

3 antonyms for buoy — opposites grouped by meaning.

Noun — A floating marker anchored in water to warn of danger, mark a channel, or show a location.

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A floating marker anchored in water to warn of danger, mark a channel, or show a location.

“The sailors steered carefully around the warning buoy.”

buoy up

2. verb

To keep something floating, or to lift someone's spirits or confidence.

“Good news about the harvest buoyed the farmers' spirits.”

Opposites

Antonyms

How to use buoy

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

marker buoy buoyed by buoy up

Etymology

From Middle Dutch boeye ("float"), tracing back through Old French to a Germanic word related to "beacon".

Full origin of buoy →

Frequently asked questions

What does “buoy” mean?
The word “buoy” means a floating marker anchored in water to warn of danger, mark a channel, or show a location. In plain terms, a floating marker in water, or — as a verb — to keep something afloat or in good spirits.
How do you pronounce “buoy”?
“Buoy” is pronounced BOY (/ˈbu.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “buoy” in a sentence?
Here is “buoy” used in a sentence: “The sailors steered carefully around the warning buoy.”
What part of speech is “buoy”?
Depending on how it is used, “buoy” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “buoy” come from?
The word “buoy” comes from Old French. From Middle Dutch boeye ("float"), tracing back through Old French to a Germanic word related to "beacon".
How many meanings does “buoy” have?
“Buoy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a floating marker anchored in water to warn of danger, mark a channel, or show a location.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.