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

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 The situation improved in 2007, when a global network of nearly 4,000 buoys, called Argo, went live. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "The Earth May Be Warming Even Faster Than We Thought," 2 Nov. 2018 The vortex lasted for days, large enough to swallow full-sized boats, so concerned lake officials immediately posted signs and buoys to keep visitors from getting sucked down the drain like a rubber duckie. — Ken Jennings, Condé Nast Traveler, "This Texas Lake Developed a Boat-Swallowing Whirlpool," 3 Sep. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Florida has won its last two games to buoy its sinking playoff hopes after a three-game losing streak last week. — Matthew Defranks, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Preview: Bruins at Panthers, 7:30 p.m., Thursday," 4 Apr. 2018 Apple surged to a record in late trading, buoying global tech shares after its earnings and forecast beat. — Ainsley Thomson, Bloomberg.com, "Everything You Need to Know This Morning From Daybreak (Podcast)," 2 Aug. 2017 Investor sentiment also was buoyed by a deal among lawmakers late Monday to avoid another partial government shutdown. — Michael Wursthorn, WSJ, "Stocks Surge on U.S.-China Trade Hopes," 12 Feb. 2019 The league has been in the midst of a passing boom in recent years, and that has been buoyed by the incorporation of concepts that were once common in the college game but foreign at the highest level of the sport. — Andrew Beaton, WSJ, "A Harsh ‘Black Monday’ Is the Latest Sign of the Changing NFL," 1 Jan. 2019 The party has seen a large number of retirements, and Ryan's exit is certain to sap morale as Republicans seek to contain a surge in enthusiasm from Democrats, whose fortunes have been buoyed by the unpopularity of President Donald Trump. — The Washington Post, OregonLive.com, "House Speaker Paul Ryan will not seek reelection, he tells friends and colleagues," 11 Apr. 2018 That legacy, buoyed by the ongoing love for the Back to the Future films, keeps the car in the public imagination, and gave Wynne the ammunition to pursue a plan that's much more ambitious than simply getting a 36-year-old car back on the road. — Matt Blitz, Popular Mechanics, "Inside the Car Company That's Resurrecting the DeLorean," 18 Jan. 2019 Markets have traded higher since last Friday, buoyed by a strong December hiring report and Mr. Powell’s more market-friendly tone during a question-and-answer session in Atlanta. — Nick Timiraos, WSJ, "Fed Is Unlikely to Raise Rates in Next Months, Minutes Show," 9 Jan. 2019 The Ligue 1 side continued to press, clearly buoyed by the audibly pro-Marseille crowd -- the final being played just 300 kilometers away in Lyon -- and center back Adil Rami spun and cracked a shot narrowly past the post. — Matias Grez, CNN, "Antoine Griezmann masterclass guides Atletico Madrid to Europa League title," 16 May 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.