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

The poem’s individual words and syllables bob like a string of harbor buoys. —A.o. Scott, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025

Data from the agency’s vast ocean monitoring networks, including ships, satellites and fleets of robotic buoys, feeds into near-term forecasts for weather and helps predict waves and tides. —Laura Paddison, CNN, 17 Mar. 2025

Verb

The tariff fear-buying began in late March and continued into April, buoyed by several automakers offering special discounts or promising not to raise prices in the near term due to President Donald Trump’s auto tariffs. —Michael Wayland, CNBC, 1 May 2025

Since the 2008 global economic downturn, our under-resourced museums, no longer buoyed by onetime blockbuster exhibitions, have come to rely more on revenue generated by repeat visitation. —Eric Crosby, Artforum, 1 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