buy
beye
Buy (verb) means to get something by paying money for it. Example: “They bought a new car last weekend.”
verb
1
To get something by paying money for it.
"They bought a new car last weekend."
"I need to buy groceries before the shops close."
"Where did you buy that lovely scarf, and was it expensive?"
2
To accept something as true or believable.
"I don't buy his excuse for being late."
"Nobody at the office bought her story about the missing files."
"The teacher didn't buy the idea that the dog ate his homework."
noun
1
Something purchased, especially a good deal.
"That laptop was a great buy for the price."
"Those second-hand boots were a real buy, and they still look new."
"At that sale price, the sofa is the best buy in the shop."
How to use buy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo purchase something with money, or informally, to believe a claim.
Common mistake
Past tense is "bought," not "buyed."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
buy into
a good buy
buy time
I don't buy it
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Word forms
- Plural
- buys
- Third person singular
- buys
- Past tense
- bought, boughten
- Archaic forms
- buyest, boughtest, buyeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I need to _____ groceries before the shops close.
Etymology
From Old English bycgan ("to buy, pay for, acquire"), an ancient Germanic verb with no certain root beyond that.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for buy
See all rhymes for buy →Frequently asked questions
What does “buy” mean?
The word “buy” means to get something by paying money for it. In plain terms, to purchase something with money, or informally, to believe a claim.
How do you pronounce “buy”?
“Buy” is pronounced beye ([baɪ] in IPA).
How do you use “buy” in a sentence?
Here is “buy” used in a sentence: “I need to buy groceries before the shops close.”
What is another word for “buy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “buy” include make a buy, aby, procure and snap up.
What is the opposite of “buy”?
The opposite of “buy” — its antonyms — are cheap, sell, disbelieve, vend and reject.
What part of speech is “buy”?
Depending on how it is used, “buy” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “buy” come from?
The word “buy” comes from Old English. From Old English bycgan ("to buy, pay for, acquire"), an ancient Germanic verb with no certain root beyond that.
Is “buy” a common word?
“Buy” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between buy and purchase?
Both mean to get something by paying for it, and they are usually interchangeable. Buy is the everyday, informal word — buy milk, buy a car. Purchase is more formal and common in business or writing — purchase an item, terms of purchase. Purchase can also work as a noun for the thing bought.
What is the difference between buy, by and bye?
They sound alike but differ in meaning. 'Buy' means to pay money for something. 'By' is a preposition showing who, how or where — written by hand, stand by me. 'Bye' is a short goodbye, or a free pass in a tournament. Only buy involves spending money.
What is the opposite of buy?
The opposite of buy is sell — to give something away in exchange for money rather than paying to receive it. Related opposites include vend and trade away. Where buying makes you the customer handing over money, selling puts you on the other side of the deal, taking it in.
Can you buy something without money?
In the strict sense, buying means paying money, so a purchase involves cash, card or another form of currency. Getting goods without money is usually called bartering, trading or receiving a gift instead. Figuratively, though, we say people 'buy into' an idea, meaning they accept it — no money changes hands there.
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