Phrasal verb
buy out
Definition
phrasal verb. to pay someone for their share of a business so that you own the whole thing. You use this when a partner wants to leave a company.
phrasal verb. To purchase the full ownership or interest of a business or property from a partner or shareholder. Transitive and optionally separable.
Examples
“My partner wants to leave, so I will buy out her share.”
“When the two founders realized they had different goals, the CEO decided to buy out the co-founder to gain full control.”
“Following months of intense negotiations, the private equity firm managed to buy out the remaining minority stakeholders, effectively taking the company private.”
Examples
simple
“My partner wants to leave, so I will buy out her share.”
contextual
“When the two founders realized they had different goals, the CEO decided to buy out the co-founder to gain full control.”
complex
“Following months of intense negotiations, the private equity firm managed to buy out the remaining minority stakeholders, effectively taking the company private.”
Usage
This phrase is common in business contexts and usually involves a person or their financial share as the object.
Teaching tip
Use a role-play scenario where two business partners disagree to help students practice the logistics of buying someone out.
Pitfall
The company tried to buy off the competition.
The company tried to buy out the competition.
Buy off implies a bribe or illegal payment, whereas buy out is a legitimate business purchase of ownership.
Phrasal verb
Particles
out
Separability
optional
Pattern
buy + out + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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