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buy definition

buy (bī)

transitive verb bought, buying buy′·ing

  1. to get by paying or agreeing to pay money or some equivalent; purchase
  2. to get as by an exchange buy victory with human lives
  3. to be the means of purchasing all that money can buy
  4. to bribe or hire as by bribing
  5. ☆ Slang to accept as true, valid, practical, etc. I can't buy this excuse
  6. Theol., Archaic to redeem

Etymology: ME bien < OE bycgan < ? IE base of bow

intransitive verb

  1. to buy something
  2. to buy merchandise as a buyer

noun

  1. the act of buying; a purchase
  2. anything bought or buyable, esp. with reference to its worth as a bargain a good (or bad) buy
  3. ☆ Informal something worth the price; bargain

Related Forms:

buy Idioms

buy in

  1. to buy a share of or shares in
  2. to buy back (an item) at an auction by a final, high bid when the other bids are much too low: said as of the orig. owner
  3. Slang to pay money so as to become a participant, member, etc.

buy into

  1. buy in (senses & ) (see phrase above)
  2. ☆ Slang buy ()

buy it

Slang to die; specif., to be killed

buy off

to bribe

buy out

to buy all the stock, business rights, etc. of

buy time

gain time (sense ) (at time)

buy up

to buy all of or all that is available of

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

buy Synonyms

buy*

n.

value, good deal, bargain, steal*; see bargain 2.


buy

v.

  1. To acquire by purchase

    purchase, acquire, get, pay for, bargain for, barter for, procure, gain, secure for a consideration, contract for, sign for, get in exchange, shop for, go marketing, buy and sell, order, invest in, make an investment, acquire ownership of, procure title to, pay cash for, redeem, hire, pay a price for, pick up, score*, traffic in*; see also obtain 1.

    Antonyms sell*, vend*, auction. *

  2. To bribe

    suborn, have in one's pay, corrupt, grease one's palm*; see bribe.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

buy Usage Examples

Object

  • ticket: Box office: the place where you buy tickets for the theater or cinema.

Noun phrase with adjective complement

  • online: Buy Pet Supplies Online in Our Pet Superstore Buy pet supplies online at discount prices in our pet shop.

Adjective complement

  • on-line: Almost anything you want to buy on-line you can earn ipoints on.

Noun used with modifier

  • impulse: For first time buyers, the UK price of around £ 50-55 depending on the exchange rates puts it above the impulse buy category.

Infinitive complement

  • let: The FSA does not regulate Buy to Let mortgages.

Preposition: from

  • chemist: Some people use pill organizers, which are available to buy from some chemists.

Preposition: with

  • confidence: You can buy with confidence at any of the stores we check.
buy usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

buy quotes

   Nay: but Iwill surely buy it oftheeat a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which dost cost me nothing.

-Bible (Old Testament)

And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

-Bible (NewTestament)

It is unfortunate we can't buy many business executives for whattheyare worth and sell them for whatthey think theyare worth.

-Forbes, (Malcolm Stevenson) 'Steve',Jr

buy quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"buy." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/buy>

APA Style

buy. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/buy

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