buoy

1 of 2

noun

ˈbü-ē  ˈbȯi 

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

: life 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 industry

—Time

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

But this gear, compared with a buoy and rope, is costly and can stress the fishers’ thin profit margins. —Nate Iglehart, Christian Science Monitor, 21 May 2025

The federal government maintains about 200 ocean buoys, as well as gliders and other instruments that can measure what's happening below the surface of the ocean. —Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 19 May 2025

Verb

Audiences are really latching onto A24’s Friendship, buoying it to no. 7 at the domestic box office on just 60 screens with a $1.4 million weekend ($23k per screen average) and a $2+ million cume. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 May 2025

But Trump has cast that caution aside in his second term, no doubt buoyed by the U.S. Supreme Court decision last year granting broad presidential immunity from prosecution. —Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2025

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

Phrases Containing buoy

• bell buoy
• breeches buoy
• life buoy

Rhymes for buoy

• chewy
• dewy
• gooey
• ennui

Kids Definition

buoy

1 of 2 noun

ˈbü-ē  ˈbȯi 

1

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

2

: life buoy

buoy

2 of 2 verb

1

: to keep from sinking : keep afloat

2

: to brighten the mood of

the news buoyed him up