Buck — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adverb adjective /ˈbək/

Meaning & Definition of Buck

Buck (noun)

  1. dollar
  2. a sum of money especially to be gained; also, money —usually used in plural
  3. —used in place of "hundred" in combination with other numbers
  4. an act or instance of bucking
  5. responsibility —used especially in the phrases pass the buck and the buck stops here
  6. an object formerly used in poker to mark the next player to deal; broadly, a token used as a mark or reminder

Buck (verb)

  1. to spring into the air with the back arched
  2. to charge against something
  3. to move or react jerkily

Buck (adverb)

  1. stark, completely

Buck (adjective)

  1. of the lowest grade within a military category or rank

Buck (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a man extremely interested in his clothing and personal appearance

    "a vain buck who spends an hour before the bathroom mirror every morning"

    similar: beau, Beau Brummell, dandy, dude, fop, gallant, jay, lounge lizard, macaroni, pretty boy
    related: coxcomb, fancy Dan, popinjay, blade, cavalier, dasher, clotheshorse, exquisite, swell
    near: slob, sloven

  2. an adult male human being

    "found some strong young bucks to help move her furniture"

    similar: bastard, bloke (chiefly British), cat, chap (chiefly British), chappie (British), dude, fella, fellow, galoot (slang), gent, gentleman, guy, hombre, jack, joe, joker, lad, male, man
    related: master, mister, sir, buddy, buster

  3. a U.S. currency bill representing 100 cents

    "dropped a buck in the collection basket"

    similar: bone (slang), clam, dollar, one, smacker (slang)
    related: greenback, dead presidents (slang)

  4. something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment

    "hoping to win some major bucks at the slot machines"

    similar: bread (slang), cabbage (slang), cash, change, chips, coin, currency, dough, gold, green, jack (slang), kale (slang), legal tender, lolly (British), long green (slang), loot, lucre, money, moola (slang), needful, pelf, scratch (slang), shekels, tender, wampum
    related: coinage, specie, dead presidents (slang), folding money, paper money, scrip, banknote, cashier's check, check, draft, money order, note, promissory note, bill, dollar, greenback, bankroll, capital, finances, funds, roll (slang), wad, wallet, chump change, dibs (slang), dime, mite, peanuts, pittance, shoestring, big bucks, bomb (British), boodle, bundle, earth, fortune, king's ransom, megabucks, mint, packet (chiefly British), pile, pot, abundance, means, opulence, riches, treasure, wealth, resources, wherewithal, mad money, petty cash, pin money, pocket money, spending money

Buck (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion

    "the car bucked and stalled"

    similar: hitch, hoick, jerk, jolt, twitch, yank
    related: bump, jounce, lurch, pitch, stagger, jig, jiggle, jog, joggle, shake, drag, lug, pull, tug, pluck, tweak, grab, rip, snap (up), snatch, tear, wrench, wrest, wring

  2. to refuse to give in to

    "bucked the trend to outdo everyone else and just wore the same clothes they had in previous years"

    similar: defy, fight, oppose, repel, resist, withstand
    related: battle, combat, contend (with), challenge, contest, contradict, dispute, baffle, balk, foil, frustrate, thwart, check, counter, hinder, obstruct, stem
    opposite: bow (to), capitulate (to), give in (to), knuckle under (to), stoop (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to)

  3. to shift possession of (something) from one person to another

    "buck each box to the next person in line, and the last person will stack them in the storeroom"

    similar: hand, hand over, pass, reach, transfer
    related: relay, bear, carry, finger, handle, paw, cede, deliver, give, give up, release, relinquish, render, surrender, turn over, yield

Related Entry: Buck up (verb)

Buck up is a different word from Buck. The synonyms below are for buck up, not for buck.

  1. to become glad or hopeful

    "buck up, kids, it's not so bad as you're making it out to be"

    similar: brighten, cheer (up), lighten, look up, perk (up)
    related: rejoice, liven (up), revive, beam, glow, radiate, sparkle, encourage, gladden, hearten
    opposite: darken, sadden
    near: despair, despond, brood, fret, mope

  2. to fill with courage or strength of purpose

    "a surprise presidential visit to buck up the troops"

    similar: bear up, buoy (up), cheer (up), chirk (up), embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire, inspirit, steel
    related: animate, enliven, invigorate, enforce, fortify, reinforce, strengthen, assure, reassure, boost, energize, excite, galvanize, provoke, quicken, rally, stimulate, stir
    opposite: daunt, discourage, dishearten, dispirit
    near: demoralize, depress, sadden, debilitate, enfeeble, hamstring, undermine, weaken, intimidate, psych (out)

Related Entry: Bang (noun)

Bang is a different word from Buck. The synonyms below are for bang, not for buck.

  1. a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument

    "delivered a sharp bang that rattled the door"

    similar: bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, blow, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, douse (British), fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, larrup (dialect), lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger, stripe, stroke, swat, swipe, switch, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, wham, whop
    related: counter, counterblow, counterpunch, counterstroke, body blow, hand, kick, knee, left, one-two, rabbit punch, right, right-hander, roundhouse, shiver, sidewinder, sucker punch, swing, uppercut, cruncher, kayo, knockdown, knockout, KO, bastinado, battering, beating, bludgeoning, clobbering, cudgeling, drubbing, hammering, lambasting, licking, pasting, pounding, pummeling, thrashing, flogging, walloping, whip, whipping

  2. a loud explosive sound

    "a sudden bang made the cat jump"

    similar: blast, boom, clap, crack, crash, pop, report, slam, smash, snap, thunderclap, thwack, whack, whomp, whump
    related: thunk, wham, clang, clangor, clank, clash, knock, rap, tap, blare, clamor, howl, hubbub, hue and cry, hullabaloo, outcry, roar, tumult, uproar

  3. a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings

    "tried to get the most bang for her money at the attractions at the county fair"

    similar: boot, charge, exhilaration, frisson, jollies, kick, rush, thrill, titillation, wallop
    related: arousal, buzz, electrification, high, intoxication, jolt, shock, surprise, delectation, delight, enjoyment, joy, lift, pleasure, amusement, diversion, entertainment, fun, treat

Related Entry: Pass (verb)

Pass is a different word from Buck. The synonyms below are for pass, not for buck.

  1. to shift possession of (something) from one person to another

    "could you please pass me the phone?"

    similar: buck, hand, hand over, reach, transfer
    related: relay, bear, carry, finger, handle, paw, cede, deliver, give, give up, release, relinquish, render, surrender, turn over, yield

  2. to come to an end

    "eventually, the storm passed"

    similar: break off, break up, cease, close, conclude, dead-end, determine, die, discontinue, elapse, end, expire, finish, go, halt, lapse, leave off, let up, quit, stop, terminate, wind up, wink (out), bite the dust
    related: desist (from), lay off (of), refrain (from), give over (British), knock off, pack (up or in), break down, conk (out), cut out, stall, pause, stay, suspend, abate, peter (out), wind down
    opposite: continue, hang on, persist
    near: draw out, extend, prolong, protract

  3. to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another

    "pass your forms to the department head once they're filled out"

    similar: commend, commit, confide, consign, delegate, deliver, entrust, give, give over, hand, hand over, leave, recommend, repose, transfer, transmit, trust, turn over, vest
    related: confer, grant, assign, deal (out), dispense, disperse, distribute, divide, hand in, release, relinquish, submit, surrender, turn in, yield, bequeath, hand down, hand on, will, advance, lend, loan, furnish, supply, recommit, redeliver, retransfer, retransmit
    opposite: hold, keep, retain
    near: detain, hold back, reserve, withhold, own, possess, accept, receive, take in, occupy, take, take over

  4. to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action

    "Congress cannot pass any law restricting free speech"

    similar: constitute, enact, lay down, legislate, make, ordain
    related: reenact, repass, bring about, effect, allow, authorize, permit, sanction, decree, dictate, proclaim, administer, execute, approve, confirm, ratify
    opposite: repeal, rescind, revoke
    near: abolish, abrogate, annul, cancel, invalidate, kill, nullify, overturn, reverse, void

  5. to take place

    "and the destruction of the town came to pass, just as the seer had predicted"

    similar: be, befall, betide, chance, come, come about, come down, come off, cook, do, go down (slang), go on, hap, happen, occur, transpire, come to pass
    related: break, develop, rise, shape (up), arise, come up, crop (up), materialize, spring (up), intervene, fall out, follow, result, turn out, go off, proceed

  6. to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it

    "a presidential candidate who doesn't yet know how it feels to pass the scrutiny of the national press"

    similar: endure, experience, feel, have, know, see, suffer, sustain, taste, undergo, witness, go through
    related: encounter, meet, accept, receive, assimilate, digest

  7. to express (a thought or emotion) in words

    "he'll occasionally pass some insightful comment, but in general he doesn't have much to contribute"

    similar: articulate, bring out, enunciate, say, speak, state, talk, tell, utter, verbalize, vocalize, put into words
    related: air, discuss, give, look, share, sound, vent, ventilate, voice, blabber, bolt, blurt, get off, shoot, advertise, announce, blaze, broadcast, declare, post, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish, affirm, allege, assert, aver, avouch, avow, breathe, chirp, drawl, gasp, lip, mouth, murmur, purr, shout, splutter, spout, whisper, clothe, couch, formulate, formulize, phrase, put, word, comment, pipe up (with), remark, rip (out), snarl
    near: stifle, suppress

  8. to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to

    "we appreciate the invitation to the party, but we'll have to pass"

    "I'll pass on the coffee"

    similar: balk (at), decline, deselect, disapprove, negative, nix, pass up, refuse, reject, reprobate, repudiate, spurn, throw out, throw over, turn down, turn one's back on
    related: blow off, disdain, rebuff, scorn, scout, shoot down, overrule, veto, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, dismiss, ignore, abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from), deny, disavow, disclaim, dispute, gainsay, stick, abjure, forswear, recant, renounce, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw, avoid, bypass, detour, contradict, disown, negate, controvert, disagree (with), disprove, rebut, refute, back down, back off, backtrack, disallow, recall, renege, revoke
    opposite: accept, agree (to), approve
    near: condone, countenance, swallow, tolerate, adopt, embrace, receive, take, welcome, accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, consent, choose, handpick, select, espouse, support

  9. to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval

    "the finished product isn't perfect, but it will pass"

    similar: fly, hold up, stand up, wash, hold water, pass muster
    related: get through, go down, go over, go through, play, take, work

Related Entry: Pass (for) (verb)

Pass (for) is a different word from Buck. The synonyms below are for pass (for), not for buck.

  1. to present a false appearance of

    "in public they pass for being a loving couple, but in reality they are only friends"

    similar: act, affect, assume, bluff, counterfeit, dissemble, fake, feign, pretend, profess, put on, sham, simulate, make believe
    related: dissimulate, impersonate, let on, masquerade, play, playact, pose, forge, imitate, camouflage, conceal, disguise, mask, feint, malinger

Related Entry: Pass (on) (verb)

Pass (on) is a different word from Buck. The synonyms below are for pass (on), not for buck.

  1. to stop living

    "my grandfather passed on at the age of 92"

    similar: check out, conk (out), croak (slang), decease, demise, depart, die, drop, end, exit, expire, fall, flatline, go, kick in (slang), kick off (slang), part, pass away, peg out (chiefly British), perish, pop off, step out, succumb, bite the dust, buy it, give up the ghost, kick the bucket, snuff it (British)
    related: predecease, consume, disappear, dry up, fade, fail
    opposite: breathe, live
    near: come to, revive, linger, be, exist, subsist, flourish, prosper, thrive

Related Entry: Pass (over) (verb)

Pass (over) is a different word from Buck. The synonyms below are for pass (over), not for buck.

  1. to make one's way through, across, or over

    "passed over two bridges"

    similar: course, cover, cross, cut (across), follow, go, navigate, perambulate, peregrinate, proceed (along), track, transit, travel, traverse
    related: hike, traipse, tramp, tread, walk, ride, run, crisscross

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Buck

The most common words with a similar meaning to Buck:

Slang: galoot, bone, smacker, bread, cabbage, jack, kale, long green, moola, scratch
Chiefly British: bloke, chap
British: chappie, lolly
beau, Beau Brummell, dandy, dude, fop, gallant, jay, lounge lizard, macaroni, pretty boy, bastard, cat, fella, fellow, gent, gentleman, guy, hombre, joe, joker, lad, male, man, clam, dollar, one, cash, change, chips, coin, currency, dough, gold, green, legal tender, loot, lucre, money, needful, pelf

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Buck

Words with the opposite meaning of Buck:

bow (to), capitulate (to), give in (to), knuckle under (to), stoop (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to)

Related Words for Buck

coxcomb, fancy Dan, popinjay, blade, cavalier, dasher, clotheshorse, exquisite, swell, master, mister, sir, buddy, buster, greenback, dead presidents, coinage, specie, folding money, paper money, scrip, banknote, cashier's check, check, draft, money order, note, promissory note, bill, bankroll

Near Antonyms of Buck

slob, sloven

Word Forms of Buck

Inflections: bucks, bucked, bucking

Derived words: bucker (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Buck

Middle English, from Old English bucca stag, he-goat; akin to Old High German boc he-goat, Middle Irish bocc

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Buck

Words & Phrases Containing Buck

buck-and-wing, buck fever

Frequently Asked Questions about Buck

What does "Buck" mean?

"Buck" means dollar. As an a noun, a verb, an adverb and an adjective, it is defined as: dollar. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Buck"?

Other words for "Buck" include beau, Beau Brummell, dandy, dude, fop, gallant, jay and lounge lizard. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Buck" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Buck"?

There are 198 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Buck". Common alternatives include beau, Beau Brummell, dandy, dude, fop, gallant, jay, lounge lizard, macaroni and pretty boy.

What is a slang word for "Buck"?

Slang words for "Buck" include galoot, bone, smacker, bread, cabbage and jack.

What is the opposite of "Buck"?

Antonyms of "Buck" include bow (to), capitulate (to), give in (to), knuckle under (to), stoop (to), submit (to), succumb (to) and surrender (to). Near antonyms include slob and sloven.

How do you use "Buck" in a sentence?

Examples of "Buck" in a sentence: "a vain buck who spends an hour before the bathroom mirror every morning"; "found some strong young bucks to help move her furniture"; "dropped a buck in the collection basket".

Is "Buck" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Buck" can be used as a noun, a verb, an adverb and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Buck" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Buck" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.