buoy

noun

\ ˈbü-ē

Definition of buoy

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

buoy

verb

buoyed; buoying; buoys

Definition of buoy (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to mark by or as if by a float or buoy buoy an anchor

2a : 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

Horton had attached a single glass loop to the exterior, midway down the side, from which the trap might be hung from dock or buoy, suspended in tide. — C.j. Chivers, Popular Mechanics, "Meet the Man Glassblowing These Gorgeous Retro Fishing Lures," 26 Apr. 2016 Quantitative easing lets central banks which have already lowered interest rates to close to zero buoy faltering economies by buying government bonds and other debt to reduce long-term interest rates. — Brian Blackstone, WSJ, "ECB Stimulus’s Mixed Legacy: Economic Success, Political Fiasco," 12 Dec. 2018 Traditionally, researchers have estimated ocean temperatures using thermometer-equipped buoys. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "The Earth May Be Warming Even Faster Than We Thought," 2 Nov. 2018 Dye says rain associated with the hurricane has started to show up on radar off the Big Island of Hawaii and offshore buoys are detecting higher than normal waves. — Fox News, "The Latest: Hurricane watch extended to Maui," 22 Aug. 2018 But an offshore buoy had read 17 feet at 25 seconds overnight, which meant that, in a few hours, the surf would be huge. — Jeff Johnson, Outside Online, "Jeff Johnson on the First Time He Saved a Life," 11 July 2018 According to the Ocean Cleanup blog, a 60-foot section of the buoy broke off late December. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "The Project to Clean Up the Pacific Garbage Patch Is Literally Falling Apart," 8 Jan. 2019 And the glass orb pendant against the blue-green walls recalls a buoy on the water. — Lisa Cregan, House Beautiful, "Gregory Shano on Decorating His Relaxed Long Island Retreat," 30 Mar. 2015 In the past, scientists and engineers have attempted to solve this problem with dedicated communications buoys, or simply by bringing subs and drones to the surface to send and receive signals. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Clever New Tech Could Let Subs and Planes Talk Directly," 22 Aug. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The report is a reversal from a Reuters story Thursday that suggested Russian officials were likely to cut output in tandem with OPEC next week, news that had buoyed prices. — Christopher Alessi, WSJ, "Oil Pulls Back on Doubts Over Producers’ Willingness to Cut Output," 30 Nov. 2018 But the factors that buoyed the chain’s expansion — the growth of malls and shopping centers and big-box stores that sell everything — have reversed, with the rise of Amazon and other online retailers leading to dwindling foot traffic and sales. — Tiffany Hsu, The Seattle Times, "Barnes & Noble struggles to survive; founder is confident of turnaround," 28 Aug. 2018 But Dern brings the honesty and spirit that buoy the whole film, as Jennifer courageously suffers for the truth. — Matthew Gilbert, BostonGlobe.com, "From a too-painful truth, a riveting ‘Tale’," 22 May 2018 There’s nothing not to like about his eager tale of a heady romance — or the precise production that buoys his airy tone. — Raisa Bruner, Time, "5 Songs You Need to Listen to This Week," 12 Jan. 2018 The dollar rose Tuesday, buoyed by gains against the Australian dollar after the Reserve Bank of Australia left interest rates unchanged but expressed a cautious outlook on the Australian economy. — Sam Goldfarb, WSJ, "Pound Strengthens on Australia Warning," 2 Apr. 2019 Ultimately, Dallet prevailed in the primary and in the general election over Sauk County Judge Michael Screnock, a conservative whose campaign was buoyed by the Republican Party of Wisconsin. — Molly Beck, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Susan Happ, Maria Lazar add their names to growing field of prospective Supreme Court candidates," 14 June 2018 In recent years, more and more women have ditched their razors, buoyed in part by body hair-happy celebrities, beauty brands, and the rest of us alike taking a definitive stance on body hair. — Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, "Women Are Ditching Shaving for #Januhairy on Social Media," 5 Jan. 2019 As strong economic growth buoyed his control, Hun Sen began to assume the mantle of statesman and prepared his sons — appointed to important military positions — to be his political successors. — Fox News, "Hun Sen plays hardball to keep his grip on Cambodia," 31 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'buoy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.