buy
buy Lexical Profile
buy Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To obtain something in exchange for payment.
"They decided to buy a small house in the suburbs after saving for five years."
To accept the truth of a claim, story, or excuse (informal).
"The teacher did not buy his elaborate excuse for missing the final exam."
To gain time, freedom, or an advantage through a sacrifice or strategic delay.
"The defense attorney filed a motion to buy more time to review the new evidence."
To secure the compliance or loyalty of someone by bribery or illicit inducement.
"The investigation revealed attempts to buy several officials on the zoning board."
• noun
An act of purchasing something, or an item considered in terms of its value for money.
"At that discounted price, the used car was an excellent buy."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'buy' (to purchase) with its homophones 'by' (a preposition indicating proximity or agency) and 'bye' (an informal farewell or sports pass).
• Rhymes for buy
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'bycgan' ('to buy, pay for, acquire, redeem'), derived from Proto-Germanic '*bugjanan', with cognates in Old Saxon 'buggian' and Gothic 'bugjan'.