buy

play

verb \ ˈbī \

Definition of buy

bought play \ˈbȯt\; buying

transitive verb

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 6

bought us with his blood

3 :bribe, hire

buy a public official

4 :to be the purchasing equivalent of

The dollar buys less today than it used to.

5 :accept, believe

I don't buy that hooey.

—often used with into

buy into a compromise

intransitive verb

:to make a purchase

Now is a good time to buy.

—

buyer

play \ˈbī(-ə)r\ noun

— buy into

:to purchase a portion of or interest in

the TV network bought into its local football team

— buy it or buy the farm

:to get killed :die

— buy time

:to delay an imminent action or decision :stall

See buy defined for English-language learners

See buy defined for kids

Examples of buy in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of buy from the Web

A lot of the yuppies that bought the first book were looking at Trump as, perish the thought, an icon.

— richard sandomir, New York Times, "Howard Kaminsky, Publisher With a Best-Seller Sense, Dies at 77," 29 Aug. 2017
CBL & Associates bought the Sears department store building in January.

— tom daykin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Marcus Theatres plans BistroPlex cinema and restaurant complex for Brookfield Square," 28 Aug. 2017
Amazon is an expert in using data on past purchases and browsing to offer suggestions that might make people buy more, and could start applying that in stores as well as online.

— sacbee, "Whole Foods prices drop after Amazon takes over. Here’s what changed," 28 Aug. 2017
Emily Celarek, of Elgin, stopped by the Ace parking lot on Elgin's west side Saturday to buy shrimp for a cookout and wish two Texans a safe journey home to the Gulf coast, which was being pummeled by lingering rains after Hurricane Harvey.

— mike danahey, Elgin Courier-News, "Elgin fishmongers face uncertain return to storm-ravaged Texas," 28 Aug. 2017
What makes this effort different is that following the GOP’s failure to repeal and replace the law, Alexander now has the blessing of his party’s leadership and buy-in from the committee’s top Democrat, Senator Patty Murray of Washington State.

— russell berman, The Atlantic, "The Senate Tests a New Approach on Obamacare: Bipartisanship," 28 Aug. 2017
Listen to the new track below and buy it on iTunes here.

— harper's bazaar staff, Harper's BAZAAR, "Taylor Swift Just Released Her First Single In Years," 25 Aug. 2017
It was later bought by George Arthur Plimpton in 1922 and has been called the Plimpton 322 tablet ever since.

— sarah gibbens, National Geographic, "Ancient Tablet May Show Earliest Use of This Advanced Math," 25 Aug. 2017
So hopefully no one else will accidentally buy a Lip Kit with gasoline in it.

— kelsey stiegman, Seventeen, "Kylie Jenner Calls Out Fake Kylie Cosmetics Website Trying to "Trick" Fans," 24 Aug. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of buy

Middle English byen, from Old English bycgan; akin to Goth bugjan to buy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

buy Synonyms

Synonyms

cop [slang], pick up, purchase, take

Antonyms

disbelieve, discredit, reject

Related Words

acquire, gain, garner, get, obtain, procure, secure, win; finance, pay (for), spring (for); barter (for), deal (for), dicker (over), exchange (for), haggle (for), negotiate (about), trade (for); bargain (with), chaffer (with), horse-trade (with), palter (with); bid, offer; rebuy, repurchase

Near Antonyms

deal (in), market, merchandise (also merchandize), retail, sell, vend

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

buy

noun

Definition of buy

1 :something of value at a favorable price; especially :bargain

It's a real buy at that 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 ¹buy 1) :purchase

an undercover drug buy

See buy defined for English-language learners

Examples of buy in a Sentence

four cartons of ice cream for four dollars is a real buy

Recent Examples of buy from the Web

The state’s official enrollment count in late September will give the first solid evidence of whether, and where, CMS has seen significant flight – or new buy-in from neighborhoods happy with coming assignment changes.

— ann doss helms, charlotteobserver, "As schools open on a transition year, family confidence in CMS hangs in the balance," 28 Aug. 2017
In an often labor-contentious airline industry, this display of public buy-in is not the usual bill of fare.

— robert reed, chicagotribune.com, "Can United Airlines fly past American's itchy uniform debacle?," 25 Aug. 2017
The experience of being with Ray and Anas and having to rely on each other helps a big-picture buy-in. ...

— jeff greer, The Courier-Journal, "How Louisville basketball's V.J. King, Anas Mahmoud, Ray Spalding fared at Adidas Nations," 14 Aug. 2017
The Environmental Protection Agency has sent out more than 1,000 buy-out notices to its employees as Congress debates a $528 million budget cut, according to a union executive.

— bill mcmorris, Fox News, "Union boss: Hundreds of EPA employees' jobs at risk," 18 July 2017
The Westside store caters to the recreationalist and the weekend explorer, stocking specific supplies for short-but- sweet trips (waterproof luggage, kitchen wares, try-it- before-you- buy-it rental gear).

— marielle wakim, Los Angeles Magazine, "Best of LA: 92 of Our Favorite Things to Eat, Do, and Buy Right Now," 14 July 2017
School choice is politically sustainable when local coalitions are in the driver’s seat and are able to build a sufficient level of local buy-in.

— lindsey burke, National Review, "‘S’ Is for ‘School Choice’ and ‘States’ — Washington Should Back Off," 13 July 2017
That's the audience's buy-in to the wizarding world.

— elizabeth logan, Glamour, "'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them': Here's What We Know About the Next Movie So Far," 3 July 2017
BUY LOW SELLHIGH drops a notch in class and has the speed to be dangerous.

— mike battaglia, The Courier-Journal, "Oddsmaker Mike Battaglia's picks for Friday at Churchill Downs," 23 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of buy

see ¹buy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1879

See Words from the same year

buy Synonyms

Synonyms

bargain, deal, pennyworth, snip [British], steal

Related Words

clearance, closeout, markdown; cheapie; bonus, freebie (or freebee), gift, giveaway, premium, present; boon, windfall

Near Antonyms

gouging, overcharge, rip-off, soaking; markup, surcharge; extravagance, luxury

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

BUY Defined for English Language Learners

buy

play

verb

Definition of buy for English Language Learners

: to get (something) by paying money for it
of money : to be able to get something
: to accept or believe (something) as true

buy

noun

Definition of buy for English Language Learners

—used to describe something that is being sold
: an act of buying something

BUY Defined for Kids

buy

play

verb \ ˈbī \

Definition of buy for Students

bought \ˈbȯt\; buying

:to get by paying for :purchase

—

buyer

noun

buy

noun

Definition of buy for Students

:¹bargain 2

I got a good buy at the grocery store.

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buy

Definition of buy

Examples of buy in a Sentence

Recent Examples of buy from the Web

Origin and Etymology of buy

buy Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Business Terms

Phrases Related to BUY

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BUY Defined for English Language Learners

buy

Definition of buy for English Language Learners

buy

Definition of buy for English Language Learners

BUY Defined for Kids

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