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to buy

to buy

989 7.1
To accept something as true
  • verb
  • /baɪ/
  • Informal
translation icon : creer
  • How do we get students to not only buy into it but also kind of co-create it?
  • buy into the idea
  • buy into the concept

And I don't, I don't really buy that part myself.

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Examples

  • There are several prerequisites nurses consider before buying into any initiative, including shared governance.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Offering cocurricular opportunities for the kids who buy into the program pays dividends.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Uh, do you buy that?

  • Between me and you, I don't buy it either.

  • No, I don't buy it.

  • The key is to get bullies to "buy in" to these beliefs.

    Academic text (2013)
  • But some of the more sophisticated observers of the Russian scene don't buy this narrative.

    Academic text (2015)
  • I don't buy it.

  • You're buying this?

  • Are you really buying that story he told you?

Synonyms

to believe
vsto buy
1.0

Accept that something is true or trust a person

is informal and focuses on accepting a claim or story rather than general trust
to buy it
vsto buy
  • Informal
140 7.6

To believe a story or explanation that may be untrue

is the same but often used as a single-word informal verb

Antonyms

14 4.7

To not accept that something is true

Idioms

5 9.9

To die suddenly, often in an accident or during fighting

To buy something when its price is low and sell it later to make money

1 9.9

To buy something without checking it first and risk being cheated

9.9

To do a task yourself and take responsibility for what happens

To make a poor choice at the wrong time

8.7

Have done something yourself and feel bored with it

9.8

To believe what you hear without checking if it is true

Choose something only because of how it sounds, for example speakers or headphones

Phrasal Verbs

to buy it
  • Informal
140 7.6

To believe a story or explanation that may be untrue

to buy it
  • Informal
57 9.9

To die suddenly from an accident or attack

49 3.5

Pay money to own a company or a partner's share to gain control

46 4.1

To pay for and take almost all of something so one group controls it

to buy into
  • Specialized
42 4.0

Get shares or part of a company by paying money

To pay money for permission to travel or go to an event

24 1.0

To shop as a customer at a particular store or seller

23 4.1

To delay something on purpose to get more time to prepare

22 3.4

To pay money to get something you once sold, lost, or gave away

16 6.8

Give money or gifts to someone so they stay quiet and do something wrong

To buy many goods at a lower price to sell them

To buy something suddenly without planning or careful thought

Compounds

A police action in which officers pretend to buy illegal drugs to arrest sellers

How Persuaded

to accept
1.3
to buy
  • Informal
989 7.1
to believe
1.0
to doubt
1.3

Surface Forms

buy infinitive
buying present participle
buys third person singular
bought past
bought past participle

Etymology

Buy can also mean 'to accept as true' and this comes from the idea of 'buying' an idea—paying with your belief. A helpful way to remember is: if you 'buy' a story, you believe it.