buoy
1 synonym and 3 antonyms for buoy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A floating marker anchored in water to warn of danger, mark a channel, or show a location.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
buoy up
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
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.
