buy

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.

“Buy” is pronounced beye ([baɪ] in IPA).

Here is “buy” used in a sentence: “I need to buy groceries before the shops close.”

Words with a similar meaning to “buy” include make a buy, aby, procure and snap up.

The opposite of “buy” — its antonyms — are cheap, sell, disbelieve, vend and reject.

Depending on how it is used, “buy” can be a verb and a noun.

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.

“Buy” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

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.

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.

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.

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.