noun
buoy
BOY
noun
1
A floating marker anchored in water to warn of danger, mark a channel, or show a location.
"The sailors steered carefully around the warning buoy."
"A red buoy marked the edge of the swimming area."
verb
1
To keep something floating, or to lift someone's spirits or confidence.
"Good news about the harvest buoyed the farmers' spirits."
"Strong export figures buoyed the local economy."
How to Use Buoy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA floating marker in water, or — as a verb — to keep something afloat or in good spirits.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "boy" (same pronunciation in many accents) or "buy".
Common pairings
marker buoy
buoyed by
buoy up
Word Forms
buoyed past tense, buoys plural, buoys singular
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The sailors steered carefully around the warning _____.
Etymology
From Middle Dutch boeye ("float"), tracing back through Old French to a Germanic word related to "beacon".