buy
A1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
to obtain something in exchange for money; to purchase.
To accept or believe something, often with scepticism; to bribe; to get something desired (e.g., time).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb is irregular (buy–bought–bought). It often implies a transaction, but is used metaphorically in many contexts (e.g., 'buy an excuse'). The noun form ('a good buy') refers to a purchase considered valuable for its price.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Minor differences: Brits may use 'buy' more readily for very small purchases ('buy a newspaper'), while Americans might occasionally use 'get' ('get a coffee'). The noun 'buy' (as in 'a good buy') is slightly more common in AmE.
Connotations
Neutral in both. Slightly more commercial connotation in AmE in certain fixed phrases (e.g., 'buy-in').
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties, with no significant disparity.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] buy [NP] (for [NP])[NP] buy [NP] [NP] (double object)[NP] buy [NP] from [NP]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “buy the farm”
- “buy a pig in a poke”
- “buy someone off”
- “buy it (slang for 'die')”
- “buy into an idea”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for procurement, acquisitions, and investments (e.g., 'The company plans to buy out its competitor').
Academic
Rare in core academic writing; appears in economics, business studies, or metaphorical use (e.g., 'The author does not buy this argument').
Everyday
Ubiquitous for all types of purchases and metaphorical acceptance (e.g., 'I don't buy your excuse').
Technical
Specific in finance (e.g., 'buy orders', 'buy signal') and computing (e.g., 'buy software licenses').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I need to buy some milk from the corner shop.
- He bought a round of drinks for everyone.
American English
- We just bought a new SUV.
- I don't buy his apology for a second.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverbial form).
American English
- N/A (No standard adverbial form).
adjective
British English
- This is a buy-one-get-one-free offer.
- Is this stock a buy recommendation?
American English
- That deal is a real buy-now opportunity.
- The analyst issued a buy rating.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I want to buy a new book.
- She buys fruit at the market.
- They bought their flat last year.
- Can you buy me a sandwich?
- The investors bought into the startup early.
- Her explanation was hard to buy.
- The government attempted to buy time by launching an inquiry.
- He was accused of trying to buy political influence.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'BY'ing something – you pass BY the shop, go in, and BUY it.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACCEPTING AN IDEA IS BUYING ("I bought his story"). TIME IS A COMMODITY ("The delay bought us more time").
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate 'buy' as 'shopping'. Shopping is процесс покупок, not the single act. Use 'do the shopping' or 'go shopping'.
- Avoid using 'buy' for abstract 'getting' where no transaction is involved. English uses 'get' more broadly (e.g., get a cold, get an idea).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect past tense: *'buyed' (correct: bought).
- Confusing 'buy' and 'by'.
- Overusing 'buy' instead of more specific verbs like 'hire', 'rent', 'subscribe'.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'buy' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Buy' is more common and informal. 'Purchase' is more formal and often used in official or business contexts.
Yes, but it's less common (e.g., 'When it comes to luxury goods, he has the money to buy.'). Usually, an object is stated or implied.
Yes, the present continuous can be used for a definite future plan (e.g., 'I'm buying a new car next week').
It means to purchase a controlling share or entirety of a business, or to pay someone to give up their share or claim.
Collections
Part of a collection
Daily Verbs
A1 · 50 words · Essential action words used in everyday conversation.
Shopping
A2 · 50 words · Vocabulary for buying and selling goods.