Word
buck
Phoneticsbuck
US/ˈbək/
UK/bˈʌk/
Definitions
01male deer or other animal
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a male deer. The word is also used for the male of some other animals, such as antelopes, rabbits, goats, and hares.
n. the male of certain mammals — chiefly deer, but also antelope, rabbit, hare, and goat.
“A large buck stepped out of the trees.”
“During the rut, a dominant buck fights off rival males to defend a group of does.”
02a dollar
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal
n. an informal word for a dollar, especially in American English. You might hear someone say something costs 'ten bucks'.
n. an informal term for a unit of currency, most frequently the United States dollar; also common in Australian and Canadian English.
“This coffee costs five bucks.”
“The entrepreneur's first venture was funded with a thousand bucks borrowed from family.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “buck” in context.
Verb
01. cost a few bucks
“It will only cost a few bucks to get the screen repaired at the local shop.”
verb + noun
02. make a quick buck
“He was always looking for a scheme to make a quick buck without putting in much effort.”
verb + noun
03. pass the buck
“Instead of taking responsibility for the error, the manager tried to pass the buck to his assistant.”
verb + noun
04. save a few bucks
“I decided to take the bus instead of a taxi to save a few bucks.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. big bucks
“Top-tier software engineers can earn big bucks working for major tech firms in Silicon Valley.”
adj + noun
06. extra bucks
“She took on a weekend shift to earn some extra bucks for her upcoming vacation.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. bang for the buck
“This laptop offers the best bang for the buck in terms of performance and price.”
noun + prep + noun
Preposition
08. for a buck
“In this economy, it is hard to find a decent cup of coffee for a buck.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“But which greens are giving you the most nutritional bang for your buck?” “Oil companies are making big bucks these days.” Word family
NOUN
Related words
Idioms
02. big bucks
03. break the buck
04. buck fever
05. buck for
06. buck off
07. buck the trend
08. buck up
Domains
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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