buoy

1 of 2

noun

1
: float sense 2
especially, nautical : a floating object moored to the bottom to mark a channel or something (such as a shoal) lying under the water
swam out toward the buoy
2

Illustration of buoy

Illustration of buoy
  • buoy 1

buoy

2 of 2

verb

buoyed; buoying; buoys

transitive verb

1
: to mark by or as if by a float or buoy
buoy an anchor
2
a
: to keep afloat
a raft buoyed by empty oil drums
b
: support, uplift
an economy buoyed by the dramatic postwar growth of industryTime
3
: to raise the spirits of
usually used with up
hope buoys him up

intransitive verb

: float
usually used with up
They buoyed up like a cork.

Examples of buoy in a Sentence

Verb The tax breaks should help to buoy the economy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Abbott said as much during the Friday stop, when discussing border security and touting buoys acting as a barrier in the Rio Grande. Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Feb. 2024 The two paddled to a buoy, whose line led to the inky depths below. Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 9 Feb. 2024 In the movie, Thomas and Sophie buoy Marc with quiet acts of care, keeping him afloat. Laura Zornosa, TIME, 29 Dec. 2023 But don't worry, there's enough room on a buoy for the both of them. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2023 The buoys are used to detect submarines and other objects in the water. Lolita C. Baldor, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2023 Texas has also added a number of physical barriers along the border, including a string of large orange buoys and concertina wire along the Rio Grande. Edgar Sandoval, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024 There has been another legal feud over the establishment of buoys by Texas in the Rio Grande. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 28 Jan. 2024 In a lab space one room over, prototype buoys were pummeled by water churning in wave tanks. Saima May Sidik, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Jan. 2024
Verb
The latter have been buoyed by funding and job opportunities, turning to a network or community to take up gainful employment and create more meaning in their lives outside of the one act of speaking up. Ariella Steinhorn, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 Its meteoric rise has been buoyed — much to the chagrin of some — by the interest in all things fermented and gut-friendly. Kim Severson, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 They’ve also been buoyed by their own call-up, Logan Stankoven, who has notched eight points in his first six NHL games. Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 7 Mar. 2024 For months, stock markets have been buoyed by hopes that slowing inflation would prompt the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates sharply this year. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2024 Commissioners felt that San Diego’s request for more hotel development buoyed the case for the agency’s approach. Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 This latest victory, the players agreed, will help buoy the future. Susan Miller Degnan, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2024 Benzinga Equity markets continued their positive momentum, marking another week of gains since the rally began at the end of October 2023, buoyed by diminishing economic concerns. Detroit Free Press, 2 Mar. 2024 She was buoyed by a fiery dissent by Justice Samuel A. Alito, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas. Karina Elwood, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'buoy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English boye, probably from Middle Dutch boeye; akin to Old High German bouhhan sign — more at beacon

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1596, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of buoy was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near buoy

Cite this Entry

“Buoy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buoy. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

buoy

1 of 2 noun
1
: a floating object anchored in a body of water to mark a channel or warn of danger
2

buoy

2 of 2 verb
1
: to keep from sinking : keep afloat
2
: to brighten the mood of
the news buoyed him up
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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