bought
ˈbȯt 
; buying
; buying
1
: to acquire possessionownershipor rights to the use or services of by payment especially of money : purchase
buy a car
buying stock in the company
bought us dinner
2
a
: to obtain in exchange for something often at a sacrifice
They bought peace with their freedom.
b
Christianity
: redeem sense 6
bought us with his blood
4
: to be the purchasing equivalent of
The dollar buys less today than it used to.
: to make a purchase
Now is a good time to buy.
1
: something of value at a favorable price
2
: an act of acquiring possessionownershipor rights to the use or services of something by payment especially of money : an act of buying (see buy entry 1 sense 1) : purchase
an undercover drug buy
Examples of buy in a Sentence
Verb
I bought this hat for $10.
He bought the quilt from a local artist.
Stock prices are lowso now is a good time to buy.
He said it was a mistakebut I don't buy it.
Noun
four cartons of ice cream for four dollars is a real buy
Recent Examples on the Web
Ashlyn NeedhamSouthern Living14 Sep. 2025
My husband bought a form-fitting plaid blazer in blue cashmere off a mannequin for $2,500.
—Eric WilsonTravel + Leisure14 Sep. 2025
John DorfmanForbes.com15 Sep. 2025
This one from Siliteelon is a budget-friendly buy that can bolster any capsule wardrobe; wear it open over a swimsuit at the beachtuck it into trousers for dinneror layer it under a sweater vest when the weather cools.
—Francesca KrempaTravel + Leisure15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buy
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Verb
Helmets & Hats Similar to the mattress and beddinganything worn on the head should never be bought used.
—Ashlyn NeedhamSouthern Living14 Sep. 2025
My husband bought a form-fitting plaid blazer in blue cashmere off a mannequin for $2,500.
—Eric WilsonTravel + Leisure14 Sep. 2025
Noun
The Washington Post via Getty Images This column frequently tracks insider buys by companies’ chief executives.
—John DorfmanForbes.com15 Sep. 2025
This one from Siliteelon is a budget-friendly buy that can bolster any capsule wardrobe; wear it open over a swimsuit at the beachtuck it into trousers for dinneror layer it under a sweater vest when the weather cools.
—Francesca KrempaTravel + Leisure15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buy
Cite this Entry
“Buy.” Merriam-Webster.com DictionaryMerriam-Websterhttps://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buy. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
buy
1 of 2 verb
bought
ˈbȯt
; buying
; buying
1
: to get by paying money for : purchase
2
: to gain control over by bribery
buy votes
3
: believe sense 3
I don't buy that nonsense
buy
2 of 2 nounLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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