buy

To get something by giving money for it.

• I need to buy bread.
• She bought a new coat yesterday.
• Where did you buy those shoes?

How to use it: buy someone something (I bought my sister a book.); buy something for someone (We bought flowers for our teacher.); buy something from someone (He bought a bike from his neighbor.)

Similar words: purchase

Opposites: sell

Common phrases: buy something, buy someone something, buy from someone

If an amount of money does this, it is enough to pay for something.

• Ten dollars buys lunch here.
• That amount will not buy much.
• What can fifty euros buy in this town?

Similar words: pay for, cover

Common phrases: buy a meal, buy much, buy a ticket

To delay something so you have more time to prepare or act.

• We need to buy time.
• Her questions bought us a few extra minutes.
• The temporary repair buys time until the new parts arrive.

How to use it: buy someone time to do something (The delay bought us time to find help.)

Similar words: gain, secure

Common phrases: buy time, buy someone time, buy more time

To accept a story, excuse, or idea as true or convincing.

• I do not buy his excuse.
• She bought the story about the broken phone.
• Do you really buy that argument?

Similar words: believe, accept

Opposites: disbelieve

Common phrases: buy the story, buy an excuse, buy that argument

To gain something by giving up something valuable or accepting a loss.

• They bought peace with painful compromises.
• He bought comfort by giving up his freedom.
• She refused to buy security at the cost of love.

How to use it: buy something with something (They bought freedom with years of struggle.); buy something at the cost of something (She bought success at the cost of her health.)

Similar words: gain, obtain, secure

Common phrases: buy peace, buy freedom, buy silence

Something you purchase, often judged by its price and quality.

• This coat was a good buy.
• Which laptop is the best buy?
• Those cheap chairs turned out to be bad buys.

Similar words: purchase, bargain

Common phrases: a good buy, a bad buy, the best buy