guy

1 of 2

verb (1)

guyed; guying; guys

transitive verb

: to steady or reinforce with a guy

guy

2 of 2

verb (2)

guyed; guying; guys

transitive verb

: to make fun of : ridicule

Did you know?

In England, November 5—Guy Fawkes Day—is celebrated by setting off fireworks and lighting bonfires. Human likenesses made of tattered clothes stuffed with hay or rags are burned on the bonfires. The day is named after a 17th-century man, Guy Fawkes, who led a plot to blow up the British Parliament buildings. Fawkes managed to hide 20 barrels of gunpowder in the cellars of the buildings. However, the plot was discovered before he could carry out his plans. He was seized and later put to death. The human likenesses burned on the fires came to be called guys. The verb guy “to ridicule” is derived from this story also. The use of the word was extended to similar figures and then to a person of strange appearance or dress. In the US, the word came to mean simply “man” and in time “a person of either sex.”

Examples of guy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But staking and guying typically should be removed within 6 weeks so the tree adapts to its environment and isn’t injured by the supports staying in place too long, says Sheffield. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026

It can be staked and guyed out or used without stakes on hard or uncooperative ground. —New Atlas, 23 Dec. 2025

Hardaway has become Adelman’s first go-to guy off the bench. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1666, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1812, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing guy

• bad guy
• fall guy
• good guy
• little guy
• the little guy
• wise guy

Rhymes for guy

• ai
• aye
• bae
• bi
• buy
• by
• bye
• chai
• chi
• cry
• die
• dry

Kids Definition

guy

1 of 3 noun

ˈgī 

: a rope, chain, rod, or wire attached to something as a brace or guide

guy

2 of 3 verb

guyed; guying

: to steady or strengthen with a guy

guy

3 of 3 noun

: fellow sense 4a, b

Etymology

Noun

probably from Dutch gei "a rope used to control a sail"

Noun

named for Guy Fawkes 1570–1606 English criminal

Word Origin

November 5 is a holiday in England, and people celebrate it by setting off fireworks and lighting bonfires. Human likenesses made of tattered clothes stuffed with hay or rags are burned on the bonfires. The holiday is called "Guy Fawkes Day" for a 17th century man who played a leading role in a plot to blow up the British Parliament buildings. Fawkes managed to hide 20 barrels of gunpowder in the cellars of the buildings. However, the plot was discovered before Fawkes could carry out his plans. He was seized and later put to death. The likenesses burned to celebrate the failure of the plot came to be called guys. The use of the word was extended to similar figures and then to a person of strange appearance or dress. In the U.S., guy came to mean simply "man" and, in time, a person of either sex.