What is buy? Pronunciation and usage in English

buy means . Learn how to pronounce and use buy through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of buy

buyverb

/bʌɪ/
Definition & pronunciation of buy

The word "buy" in English is pronounced "bye".

It's a very common pronunciation mistake! Here's a breakdown:

  • "buy" - pronounced like the word "bye" (as in "goodbye").

Here's how to say it:

  • Stress: The stress is on the first syllable: buy
  • Sound: It's a short, quick "bye" sound.

Resources for hearing it:

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  • Give you some example sentences using "buy"?
  • Explain why people often mispronounce it?

Usage and examples with the word buy in English

Let's break down how to use the word "buy" in English. It's a very common and versatile word!

1. Basic Meaning: To Purchase

The most fundamental meaning of "buy" is to acquire something by paying for it.

  • Example: "I want to buy a new car."
  • Example: "She bought a beautiful dress for the party."

2. Different Forms & Uses

  • Buy (base form): Used in the present tense and simple past tense.
  • Bought (past tense): Describes an action that happened in the past.
  • Buying (present participle): Used with auxiliary verbs like "is," "are," "was," "were."
  • Will buy (future tense): Indicates an action that will happen in the future.

Examples showing the forms:

  • "I am buying groceries today." (Present participle)
  • "He bought a ticket to the concert last night." (Past tense)
  • "She will buy a new phone next month." (Future tense)

3. Structures & Phrases with "Buy"

Here are some common ways "buy" is used in phrases:

  • Buy something: This is the most common structure.
    • "I want to buy a book."
    • "Can you buy me a coffee?"
  • Buy from someone: Indicates the source of the purchase.
    • "I bought it from a local shop."
    • "You can buy fruit from the farmer's market."
  • Buy out someone: To purchase a business or property completely.
    • "He bought out his partner in the company."
  • Buy into something: To accept or support an idea or plan. (More figurative)
    • "I don't buy into that theory."
  • Buy with cash: To pay without using a card or electronic method.
    • “He bought the house with cash.”
  • Buy on sale: To purchase an item at a reduced price.
    • "I'm going to buy this shirt on sale."

4. Context & Nuances

  • Informal vs. Formal: "Buy" is generally appropriate in most situations. "Purchase" is slightly more formal.
  • Shopping: "Shopping" is often used in conjunction with "buy." (e.g., "I'm going shopping.")

5. Synonyms (Words with Similar Meanings)

  • Purchase
  • Acquire
  • Obtain
  • Procure

Let's test your understanding! Can you create a sentence using "buy" in one of the ways we discussed? I'm happy to give you feedback.

Synonyms for the word buy

Idioms of the word buy

the best that money can buy
the very best
  • We make sure our clients get the best that money can buy.
(have) bought it
(informal)to have been killed, especially in an accident or a war
  • Joe finally bought it in a plane crash in Tunisia.
buy back the farm
(Australian English, New Zealand English, informal)to get back a country's assets, such as land or property, after they have been owned by another country
  • The prime minister revealed his plan to buy back the farm from foreign ownership.
buy the farm
(North American English, informal)to die
    buy time
    to do something in order to delay an event, a decision, etc.
    • The negotiators kept the gunman talking to buy time for the hostages.
    (buy) a pig in a poke
    if you buy a pig in a poke, you buy something without seeing it or knowing if it is good enough
    • Buying from a catalogue can mean buying a pig in a poke.
    sell somebody/buy a pup
    (British English, old-fashioned, informal)to sell somebody something/to buy something that has no value or is worth much less than the price paid

      Practice with vocabulary buy

      Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

      1. She decided to ______ a new laptop because her old one was too slow.
      2. Would you like to ______ groceries on your way home?
      3. He always prefers to ______ tickets online to avoid long queues.
      4. We should ______ some time to discuss the project before the meeting.

      Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

      1. What is the best way to acquire a new car?
        a) rent
        b) buy
        c) borrow
        d) sell
      2. Which word means to obtain something by paying money?
        a) purchase
        b) exchange
        c) buy
        d) lend
      3. I need to ______ a gift for my sister’s birthday.
        a) give
        b) buy
        c) make
        d) receive
      4. Which of these words is not related to obtaining something?
        a) acquire
        b) sell
        c) purchase
        d) trade
      5. Can you ______ me some milk from the store?
        a) bring
        b) buy
        c) fetch
        d) take

      Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

      1. Original: She purchased a new dress for the party.
        Rewrite: She ______ a new dress for the party.
      2. Original: They acquired the company for a large sum.
        Rewrite: They ______ the company for a large sum.
      3. Original: He’s saving money to get a new phone.
        Rewrite: He’s saving money to ______ a new phone.

      Answers:

      Exercise 1:

      1. buy
      2. buy
      3. purchase
      4. take

      Exercise 2:

      1. b) buy
      2. c) buy
      3. b) buy
      4. b) sell
      5. b) buy

      Exercise 3:

      1. She bought a new dress for the party.
      2. They bought the company for a large sum.
      3. He’s saving money to purchase a new phone.

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