FluencyCraft

buy

"Buy" is a common, everyday English word with a few important meanings. Most of the time it's about getting something by paying money, but it also has some interesting figurative uses. Here are the most useful senses.

1verbpurchase

This is the core meaning. When you give money to get something in return, you are buying it. Think of it as exchanging your money for an object or a service.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

She went to the market to buy some fresh vegetables.

He saved for months to buy a new laptop.

Can you buy me a coffee while you're at the café?

2verbfigurativegain through sacrifice

Sometimes you 'buy' something not with money, but with effort, time, or suffering. It means you achieved something at a great personal cost.

everyday language, literature · Modern, widely used · figurative

The soldiers bought peace with their lives.

She bought her success through years of hard work.

Every second of delay buys us more time to prepare.

3verbfigurativebelieve or accept

In informal speech, if you 'buy' an idea or an explanation, it means you believe it or accept it as true. Imagine someone trying to 'sell' you a story — if you believe it, you 'bought' it.

informal, everyday language · Modern, widely used · figurative

The detective didn't buy the suspect's alibi.

Do you really buy that excuse? It sounds made up.

I told him I was sick, but he didn't buy it.

4nouna good deal or purchase

As a noun, 'buy' refers to something you purchased, especially when it was a smart or good purchase. You'll often hear 'a good buy' meaning something worth the money.

everyday language, shopping · Modern, widely used

That jacket was a great buy — it was half price!

This phone is the best buy in its price range.

At that price, it's definitely a buy.

Content generated by AI — may contain inaccuracies