bought
ˈbȯt 
; buying
; buying
1
: to acquire possession, ownership, or rights to the use or services of by payment especially of money : purchase
buy a car
buying stock in the company
bought us dinner
2
a
: to obtain in exchange for something often at a sacrifice
They bought peace with their freedom.
b
Christianity
: redeem sense 6
bought us with his blood
4
: to be the purchasing equivalent of
The dollar buys less today than it used to.
: to make a purchase
Now is a good time to buy.
1
: something of value at a favorable price
2
: an act of acquiring possession, ownership, or rights to the use or services of something by payment especially of money : an act of buying (see buy entry 1 sense 1) : purchase
an undercover drug buy
Examples of buy in a Sentence
Verb
I bought this hat for $10.
He bought the quilt from a local artist.
Stock prices are low, so now is a good time to buy.
He said it was a mistake, but I don't buy it.
Noun
four cartons of ice cream for four dollars is a real buy
Recent Examples on the Web
Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Lesser and other of Lamont’s fellow Democrats in the General Assembly’s majority have recommended tapping state finances, which have achieved unprecedented surpluses for nearly a decade, to help these households buy groceries.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 2 June 2026
Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Kept its buy rating on the stock after Dell’s monster quarter Thursday night.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for buy
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Verb
Droves of shoppers are going after cooling household essentials like this Dreo tower fan that offers eight speeds of breezy relief, while another lot of customers just bought this Black+Decker portable air conditioner that blasts super cool air.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Lesser and other of Lamont’s fellow Democrats in the General Assembly’s majority have recommended tapping state finances, which have achieved unprecedented surpluses for nearly a decade, to help these households buy groceries.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 2 June 2026
Noun
His team unleashed a large advertising buy — a major chunk of his remaining campaign funds — placing spots on cable TV and online beginning in late March.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Kept its buy rating on the stock after Dell’s monster quarter Thursday night.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for buy
Cite this Entry
“Buy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buy. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
buy
1 of 2 verb
bought
ˈbȯt
; buying
; buying
1
: to get by paying money for : purchase
2
: to gain control over by bribery
buy votes
3
: believe sense 3
I don't buy that nonsense
buy
2 of 2 nounLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
