buoy

1 of 2

noun

1
: float sense 2
especially, nautical : a floating object moored to the bottom to mark a channel or something (such as a shoal) lying under the water
swam out toward the buoy
2

Illustration of buoy

Illustration of buoy
  • buoy 1

buoy

2 of 2

verb

buoyed; buoying; buoys

transitive verb

1
: to mark by or as if by a float or buoy
buoy an anchor
2
a
: to keep afloat
a raft buoyed by empty oil drums
b
: support, uplift
an economy buoyed by the dramatic postwar growth of industryTime
3
: to raise the spirits of
usually used with up
hope buoys him up

intransitive verb

: float
usually used with up
They buoyed up like a cork.

Examples of buoy in a Sentence

Verb The tax breaks should help to buoy the economy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The marina harbor has 85 berths for yachts up to 165 feet, while buoys just outside accommodate gigayachts to 550 feet. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2024 The city is a blue buoy in the red ocean that is the Lone Star State — two-thirds of El Paso County voters chose Joe Biden in 2020. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024
Verb
But Trump was buoyed by a fervently loyal support base — most of whom believe his narrative that he has been unfairly victimized by a corrupt political, legal and media establishment. Niall Stanage, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2024 On Tuesday night, the gathering at Howard had begun before 7 with a sense of optimism — one buoyed by a playlist that included 1990s hip-hop and modern female empowerment anthems. Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for buoy 

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English boye, probably from Middle Dutch boeye; akin to Old High German bouhhan sign — more at beacon

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1596, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of buoy was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near buoy

Cite this Entry

“Buoy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buoy. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

buoy

1 of 2 noun
1
: a floating object anchored in a body of water to mark a channel or warn of danger
2

buoy

2 of 2 verb
1
: to keep from sinking : keep afloat
2
: to brighten the mood of
the news buoyed him up
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!