buy
gb/bˈaɪ/ us/bˈaɪ/
A1
English
~ 400
vesz, elhisz, bevesz, úgy gondol, időt nyer, megszerez
VERB
A1
1
vesz
A1
Usage pattern:
to buy [something]
I need to buy some bread on my way home.
Hazafelé vennem kell egy kis kenyeret.
She bought a new laptop yesterday.
Tegnap vett egy új laptopot.
We decided to buy our first home this year.
They bought tickets for the concert online.
He bought a gift for his sister's birthday.
Learner examples
I want to buy a book.
Könyvet szeretnék venni.
She will buy a pen.
Tollat fog venni.
We buy food every week.
He buys milk in the morning.
They buy a car.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'buy' with 'borrow' or 'rent', which do not mean owning the item permanently.
Meaning
Pay money to get something
Collocations
buy a house
|buy a car
|buy groceries
|buy tickets
|buy clothes
Synonyms
purchase (More formal and less common in everyday conversation.)
Antonyms
sell (Means to give something to someone in exchange for money, the opposite direction of the transaction.)
Themes
business
|daily life
|shopping
|daily_life
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To get something by giving money for it.
To acquire possession of something by paying money for it.
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
to buy [a story/explanation/idea]
I don't buy his excuse for being late.
Nem hiszem el a késésére adott magyarázatát.
She bought the story without asking any questions.
Minden kérdés nélkül elhitte a történetet.
They didn't buy the idea that it was an accident.
The jury didn’t buy the defense’s argument.
He buys into every conspiracy theory he hears.
Learner examples
I don't buy his story.
Nem hiszem el a történetét.
Do you buy what she said?
Elhiszed, amit mondott?
He buys the idea easily.
They don't buy this plan.
I buy your reason.
Common mistake:
Learners may interpret 'buy' literally here, not recognizing it as a figurative expression meaning 'believe'. Context usually clarifies this.
Meaning
Believe something is true
Collocations
buy the story
|buy the excuse
|buy into an idea
Synonyms
believe (General term for accepting something as true; 'buy' is more informal and sometimes skeptical.)
Antonyms
doubt (Refusing to accept something as true.)
Themes
communication
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To believe that something is true or correct.
To accept or believe an idea, statement, or explanation as true or valid.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
to buy [time/freedom/help]
The lawyer tried to buy more time for his client.
Az ügyvéd megpróbált több időt nyerni az ügyfelének.
She bought her freedom by agreeing to testify.
Azzal szerezte meg a szabadságát, hogy beleegyezett a tanúskodásba.
They bought political support through generous donations.
He bought peace by apologizing sincerely.
The company bought influence in the region.
Learner examples
I need to buy time to finish my work.
Időt kell nyernem, hogy befejezhessem a munkámat.
She bought help from a friend.
Segítséget szerzett egy barátjától.
They bought peace in the family.
He bought support from his team.
We bought time with a delay.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with buying physical objects; here, it refers to abstract benefits.
Meaning
Get advantage by paying or conceding
Collocations
buy time
|buy freedom
|buy support
Synonyms
secure (More formal; can mean to make certain of obtaining something, often through effort or payment.)
Antonyms
lose (Fail to keep or obtain an advantage or opportunity.)
Themes
business
|negotiation
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To get more time, help, or another benefit by giving money or something else of value.
To obtain an advantage, opportunity, or time by spending money or making a concession.
Grammar
Dictionary form
buy
IPA
GB/bˈaɪ/
US/bˈaɪ/
Syllables & stress
buy (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (buy)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: buy
- 3rd Person Singular: buys
- Present Participle: buying
- Past: bought
- Past Participle: bought
Word family
Forms
buys
verb
buying
verb
bought
verb
Core family
buyer
noun A2
Related words
purchase
verb A2
Advanced or less common
buyable
adjective
Highlights
- Irregular past: bought Verb
- Irregular past participle: bought Verb
Expressions
buy into
1/bˈaɪ ˈɪntu/
phrasal verb
Accept an idea or plan
To agree with or accept an idea, plan, or way of doing something.
Examples
- Not everyone buys into the new policy.
- He quickly bought into the team's vision for the project.
buy time
1/bˈaɪ tˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
Delay something to get more time
To do something so you have more time before you must do something else.
Examples
- She asked a lot of questions to buy time before answering.
- The negotiators tried to buy time until reinforcements arrived.
buy up
1/bˈaɪ ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
Purchase all of something available
To purchase all of something that is available.
Examples
- Investors are buying up property in the area.
- They bought up all the tickets for the show.
for sale, not for sale (can't be bought) / 'money can't buy happiness' context — skip? human review needed? We'll add 'buy off' instead)
1/fɚ sˈeɪl | nˈɑt fɚ sˈeɪl kˈænt bˈi bˈɔt mˈʌni kˈænt bˈaɪ hˈæpinəs kˈɑntɛkst skˈɪp ‖ hjˈumən ɹɪvjˈu nˈidɪd ‖ wˈil ˈæd bˈaɪ ˈɔf ɪnstˈɛd/
fixed phrase
for sale, not for sale (can't be bought) / 'money can't buy happiness' context — skip? human review needed? We'll add 'buy off' instead)
for sale, not for sale (can't be bought) / 'money can't buy happiness' context — skip? human review needed? We'll add 'buy off' instead)