What does "buy" mean?

1. (to purchase) to get something by giving money for it. 2. (to believe) to believe that an idea or an excuse is true. 3. (to bribe) to give someone money so they will do something dishonest for you. 4. (a purchase) something that you have bought, especially if it was a good price.

How do you use "buy"?

Often used ditransitively: you can buy someone something or buy something for someone.

Is it correct to say "I bought it to the shop."?

No — say "I bought it at the shop.". Use 'at' or 'from' for the location of a purchase. 'To' suggests movement toward a place.

buy

US //ˈbaɪ// UK //bˈaɪ// buy

1 to purchase (v.)
A1 Beginner

to get something by giving money for it.

to acquire possession of something by paying a price in money or its equivalent.

Example

I need to buy some milk and bread on my way home.

Example

The company plans to buy several smaller competitors this year to expand its market share in the region.

Usage

Often used ditransitively: you can buy someone something or buy something for someone.
- sell
- vend
Pitfall

I bought it to the shop.

I bought it at the shop.

Use 'at' or 'from' for the location of a purchase. 'To' suggests movement toward a place.
2 to believe (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

to believe that an idea or an excuse is true.

to accept the truth or validity of a statement, excuse, or theory.

Example

He said he was late because of a dragon, but I didn't buy it.

Example

The jury didn't buy the defendant's explanation for his presence at the scene, especially given the forensic evidence presented by the prosecution.
- reject
- doubt

Show 2 more sensesShow fewer

3 to bribe (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal

to give someone money so they will do something dishonest for you.

to influence a person's actions or decisions by means of a bribe.

Example

The criminal tried to buy the witness's silence with a large bag of cash.

Example

The investigation revealed that the corporation had attempted to buy the votes of several local officials to secure the building permit.
4 a purchase (n.)
B1 Intermediate

something that you have bought, especially if it was a good price.

an instance of buying or the item that has been purchased; often used to describe the value of the transaction.

Example

That new laptop was a great buy because it was fifty percent off.

Example

The analyst described the stock as a strong buy, citing the company's robust quarterly earnings and innovative product pipeline.

Origin

From Middle English byen, from Old English bycġan (“to buy, pay for, acquire, redeem, ransom, procure, get done, sell”), from Proto-West Germanic buggjan, from Proto-Germanic bugjaną (“to buy”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Proto-Indo-European bʰūgʰ- (“to bend”), or from Proto-Indo-European bʰewgʰ- (“to take away, deliver”). Cognate with Scots buy (“to buy, purchase”), obsolete Dutch beugen (“to buy”), Old Saxon buggian, buggean (“to buy”), Old Norse byggja (“to build, settle”), Gothic 𐌱𐌿𐌲𐌾𐌰𐌽 (bugjan, “to buy”). The spelling with “u” is from the Southwest, while the pronunciation with /aɪ/ is from the East Midlands.

Idioms12 entries