- 1[transitive, intransitive] to obtain something by paying money for it buy (something) Where did you buy that dress? If you're thinking of getting a new car, now is a good time to buy. buy something from somebody I bought it from a friend for $10. buy somebody something He bought me a new coat. buy something for somebody He bought a new coat for me. buy something + adj. I bought my car secondhand. opposite sell
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- 2[transitive] buy something (of money) to be enough to pay for something He gave his children the best education that money can buy. Five dollars doesn't buy much nowadays.
- 3[transitive] buy somebody to persuade someone to do something dishonest in return for money synonym bribe He can't be bought (= he's too honest to accept money in this way). obtain
- 4[transitive, usually passive] buy something to obtain something by losing something else of great value Her fame was bought at the expense of her marriage. believe
- 5[transitive] buy something (informal) to believe that something is true, especially something that is not very likely You could say you were sick, but I don't think they'd buy it (= accept the explanation). Idioms
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NAmE//baɪ//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they buy he / she / it buys
past simple bought
-ing form buying
the very best We make sure our clients get the best that money can buy.
to be killed, especially in an accident or a war Joe finally bought it in a plane crash in Tunisia.
to die
to do something in order to delay an event, a decision, etc. The negotiators kept the gunman talking to buy time for the hostages.
if you buy a pig in a poke, you buy something without seeing it or knowing if it is good enough Buying from a catalog can mean buying a pig in a poke. Phrasal Verbsbuy intobuy offbuy outbuy up
Check pronunciation: buy