buy

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive or intransitive

   To get something by paying money for it.

   Grammar: Usually takes an object: buy a coat. It can be used alone in the sense of purchasing: I only buy online.

   Patterns

   • buy something from someone
   • buy something for someone
   • buy someone something

   I bought a new phone last week.

   She buys her vegetables from the market.

   Can I buy you a coffee?

2. 2verbtransitiveinformal

   To accept that something is true or believable, especially something doubtful.

   Grammar: Takes an object: I don't buy that excuse.

   Patterns

   • buy something
   • buy it

   I don't buy his story about the traffic.

   Nobody bought the explanation.

   The jury didn't buy the argument.

Word forms

Common combinations

buy a house

They hope to buy a house next year.

buy online

Many people buy online to save time.

buy in bulk

We buy rice in bulk to save money.

buy something on credit

He bought the sofa on credit.

buy time

The delay bought us time to prepare.

Synonyms and how they differ

purchase

Purchase means the same but sounds more formal, so it fits contracts and larger items better than everyday talk.

acquire

Acquire is wider than buy because it covers getting something by any means, not only paying.

pick up

Pick up is informal and often suggests a cheap or casual purchase.

believe

Believe is the neutral word for the second sense, while buy sounds informal and usually appears in negatives.

Opposites

Word family

buyer noun

a person who buys

buyout noun

the purchase of a company

buyable adjective

able to be bought

purchase verb

a more formal word for buy

Commonly confused: buy or by? buy or bye?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “buy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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