Buy — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Meaning & Definition of Buy

Buy (verb)

to acquire possession, ownership, or rights to the use or services of by payment especially of money, purchase
to obtain in exchange for something often at a sacrifice
redeem

Buy (noun)

something of value at a favorable price; especially, bargain
an act of acquiring possession, ownership, or rights to the use or services of something by payment especially of money, an act of buying, purchase

Buy (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

to get possession of (something) by giving money in exchange for

"I really want to buy that new book, but I don't have enough money right now"

similar: cop (slang), pick up, purchase, take

related: 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: deal (in), market, merchandise, retail, sell, vend
to influence someone with a bribe

"there were rumors that the mobster had bought the judge"

similar: bribe, corrupt, have, pay off, square, get at, grease the hand of, oil the hand of

related: fix, tamper (with), abase, debase, debauch, defile, degrade, demean, deprave, dishonor, pervert, poison, profane, prostitute, subvert, taint, warp, allure, bait, beguile, entice, lead on, lure, seduce, tempt, motivate, provoke, spur, stimulate, goad, induce, flatter, persuade, snare, trap
to regard as right or true

"if you buy that story, then I have a bridge in Brooklyn you might be interested in"

similar: accept, believe, credit, swallow, take, trust, set store by

related: account, accredit, understand, assume, presume, suppose, conclude, deduce, infer

opposite: disbelieve, discredit, reject

near: distrust, doubt, misdoubt, mistrust, question, suspect, challenge, dispute

Buy (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

something bought or offered for sale at a desirable price

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

similar: bargain, deal, pennyworth, snip (British), steal

related: clearance, closeout, markdown, cheapie, bonus, freebie, gift, giveaway, premium, present, boon, windfall

near: gouging, overcharge, rip-off, soaking, markup, surcharge, extravagance, luxury

Related Entry: Buy it (phrase)

Buy it is a different word from Buy. The synonyms below are for buy it, not for buy.

to stop living

"After years of ignoring his health problems, the old man finally bought it."

similar: check out, conk (out), croak (slang), decease, demise, depart, die, drop, end, exit, expire, fall, flatline, go, kick in (slang), kick off (slang), pass (on), pass away, part, peg out (chiefly British), perish, pop off, step out, succumb, bite the dust, 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: Buy (back) (verb)

Buy (back) is a different word from Buy. The synonyms below are for buy (back), not for buy.

as in win (back), redeem

similar: redeem, win (back)

opposite: hock, pawn, pledge, deposit, mortgage, bond

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Buy

The most common words with a similar meaning to Buy:

Slang: cop

British: snip

pick up, purchase, take, bribe, corrupt, have, pay off, square, accept, believe, credit, swallow, trust, get at, grease the hand of, oil the hand of, set store by, bargain, deal, pennyworth, steal

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Buy

Words with the opposite meaning of Buy:

disbelieve, discredit, reject

Related Words for Buy

Near Antonyms of Buy

deal (in), market, merchandise, retail, sell, vend, distrust, doubt, misdoubt, mistrust, question, suspect, challenge, dispute, gouging, overcharge, rip-off, soaking, markup, surcharge, extravagance, luxury

Word Forms of Buy

Inflections: bought, buying

Origin & Etymology of Buy

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

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Buy

CEFR level: A1 English Vocabulary — Page 3
Topics: Shopping & Money

Words & Phrases Containing Buy

buy-in, buy into, buy it, buy off, buy time, buy out, buy up

Frequently Asked Questions about Buy

What does "Buy" mean?

"Buy" means to acquire possession, ownership, or rights to the use or services of by payment especially of money, purchase. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to acquire possession, ownership, or rights to the use or services of by payment especially of money, purchase. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Buy"?

Other words for "Buy" include cop, pick up, purchase, take, bribe, corrupt, have and pay off. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Buy" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Buy"?

There are 105 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Buy". Common alternatives include cop, pick up, purchase, take, bribe, corrupt, have, pay off, square and accept.

What is the opposite of "Buy"?

Antonyms of "Buy" include disbelieve, discredit and reject. Near antonyms include deal (in), market, merchandise and retail.

How do you use "Buy" in a sentence?

Examples of "Buy" in a sentence: "I really want to buy that new book, but I don't have enough money right now"; "there were rumors that the mobster had bought the judge"; "if you buy that story, then I have a bridge in Brooklyn you might be interested in".

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

"Buy" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

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

As an A1-level word, "Buy" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Buy"?

"Buy" is pronounced /ˈbī/.