buy
Buy (verb) means to get something by paying money for it. Example: “They bought a new car last weekend.”
How to Use Buy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo purchase something with money, or informally, to believe a claim.
Past tense is "bought," not "buyed."
Word Forms
bought past tense, boughten past tense, buy plural, bought plural, buys plural, buys singular, buy singular, bought singular, buyest singular, boughtest singular, buyeth singular
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
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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.