Word combinations with “Buy” in English

Phrasal verbs are an integral part of the English language, providing a dynamic way of expressing ideas in a more casual or conversational tone. When it comes to money and transactions, “buy” [baɪ] is a commonly used verb, and pairing it with various prepositions morphs its meaning to suit different contexts.

The verb “to buy” is an irregular verb. Its main forms are presented in the table.

Below are the top 15 phrasal verbs with “buy,” along with their meanings and examples to illustrate their use.

Top 15 Phrasal Verbs with “Buy”

• Buy into 

• • Meaning: To completely believe in a concept or idea.
  • Example: Many people buy into the idea that money can’t buy happiness.
  • Example: I never bought into the idea of a federalist Euopean Union.

• Buy off 

• • Meaning: To pay someone to secure their cooperation, often used in a negative sense implying corruption or bribery. Pay someone to stop them causing trouble.
  • Example: The company tried to buy off  the local officials, but they were reported to the authorities.
  • Example: He bought the newspaper off  by placing a lot of adverts.

• Buy out 

• • Meaning: To purchase the entirety or a controlling share of something, like a company or an individual’s stake. Buy somebody’s share in a company.
  • Example: The tech giant is planning to buy out several smaller startups this year.
  • Example: His business partners bought him out  to get rid of him.

• Buy up 

• • Meaning: To purchase large quantities of something or all that is available. Buy all of something.
  • Example: Investors bought up all the available shares in the promising new enterprise.
  • Example: We bought up all the shop had before the price went up.

• Buy back 

• • Meaning: To repurchase something previously sold, often used in business contexts with stocks or goods.
  • Example: The company decided to buy back some of its shares from the stock market to regain control.

• Buy down 

• • Meaning: To pay an upfront fee to reduce future payments, often related to mortgage interest rates.
  • Example: They decided to buy down their mortgage rate to save money over time.

• Buy in 

• • Meaning: To purchase a share of or a stake in an enterprise, also used to express agreement or commitment to an idea. Force a CD or record into the charts by buying lots of copies.
  • Example: She bought in to the new business venture with enthusiasm.
  • Example: Joe Meek’s last hit, ‘Singin’ the Blues’, was probably bought in at number 30, but failed to go any higher.

• Buy out of

• • Meaning: To pay to get out of an obligation or situation.
  • Example: He wanted to buy out of his contract, but there were substantial penalties for doing so.

• Buy over 

• • Meaning: Similar to “buy off,” it means acquiring someone’s loyalty or cooperation through bribery. To win someone’s allegiance or support through persuasion.
  • Example: The spy was bought over by a rival nation with promises of asylum and money.
  • Example: The charismatic leader managed to buy over even the most skeptical team members with his compelling vision.

• Buy around 

• • Meaning: To shop at various places for goods or services.
  • Example: We spent the weekend buying around for the perfect wedding dress.

• Buy through 

• • Meaning: To purchase something through a specific channel or process.
  • Example: They bought their tickets through an official agent to avoid scams.

• Buy on 

• • Meaning: To make a purchase based on a specific condition or situation.
  • Example: Many people buy on impulse, which often leads to regret later.

• Buy for 

• • Meaning: To purchase something for someone else.
  • Example: Every Christmas, he struggles with what to buy for his wife.

• Buy from 

• • Meaning: To make a purchase from a particular seller or source.
  • Example: Consumers are encouraged to buy from local farmers to support the community.

• Buy across 

• • Meaning: This is not a standard phrasal verb and may confuse native speakers. It could potentially mean purchasing among various categories or spreading purchases across different sectors.
  • Example: To diversify their investments, they decided to buy across several industries.

Understanding and using these phrasal verbs can add more vocabulary to your conversations about commerce, negotiations, and financial decisions. As with any other element of language learning, it takes practice, so incorporating it into your daily English usage will make your speaking more natural and better.