# buy

/ˈbaɪ/ (US) · /bˈaɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/buy
Updated: 2026-05-29

## Senses

### 1. to purchase

verb · CEFR A1

to get something by giving money for it.

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

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

### 2. to believe

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to believe that an idea or an excuse is true.

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

- He said he was late because of a dragon, but I didn't buy it.
- The jury didn't buy the defendant's explanation for his presence at the scene, especially given the forensic evidence presented by the prosecution.

### 3. to bribe

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

- The criminal tried to buy the witness's silence with a large bag of cash.
- The investigation revealed that the corporation had attempted to buy the votes of several local officials to secure the building permit.

### 4. a purchase

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- That new laptop was a great buy because it was fifty percent off.
- The analyst described the stock as a strong buy, citing the company's robust quarterly earnings and innovative product pipeline.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.