buying

/baɪ/ (bre, ipa) · [bˈaɪɪŋ] /baɪ/ (ame, ipa) · [bˈaɪɪŋ] /ˈbī How to pronounce buy (audio)/ (ame, mw)

buying — verb

  • buyingpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • buyings3rd person singular
  • buyinging-ing form
  • buyingedpast simple

1. as the -ing form of 'buy', getting an item in exchange for money, whether in a s

1.動詞及物 / 不及物A1
釋義

as the -ing form of 'buy', getting an item in exchange for money, whether in a shop, online, or from another person

例句

Hari is buying school shoes for his daughter after work.

buying + noun for + person

More families are buying fans online before the hottest month arrives.

intransitive activity with online shopping context

同義詞
  • purchase

    more formal and common in business or legal writing

  • pick up

    more informal and often used for smaller everyday items

  • acquire

    broader and not limited to paying money

反義詞
  • sell

    describes giving the item to someone else for money

  • return

    means taking an item back after you have bought it

文法句型

be buying + noun

buying + noun for + person

buying from + seller

用法筆記

This is the ordinary commercial sense. The thing obtained is usually the direct object, while the seller or source often follows with 'from'.

常見錯誤

❌She is buying for a new laptop.
✅She is buying a new laptop.' or 'She is shopping for a new laptop.
💡'buy' normally takes the thing as a direct object.
❌He is buying from his mother flowers.
✅He is buying flowers for his mother.
💡use 'for' to mark the person receiving the item.

2. as the -ing form of 'buy', giving money or other benefits to a person so they ob

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

as the -ing form of 'buy', giving money or other benefits to a person so they obey you or stop causing trouble

例句

The gang was buying guards with envelopes of cash before the trial.

buying + person with + money

Brian accused the company of buying local officials to block the protest.

同義詞
  • bribe

    the most direct and neutral equivalent

  • pay off

    slightly more informal and often stresses secret payment

  • suborn

    formal legal word, especially when someone is induced to act dishonestly

反義詞
  • resist

    describes refusing corrupt pressure or payment

  • refuse

    focuses on rejecting the bribe or offer

文法句型

buying + person

buying + supporters

buying + person with + money or gifts

用法筆記

The object is usually a person or group whose decision can be influenced. The sense is figurative and implies corruption rather than a legal transaction.

常見錯誤

❌The club was buying the referee from another team.
✅The club was buying the referee with cash.
💡this sense means bribing someone, not transferring them legally.
❌The article says the mayor was buying support, so he was shopping for voters.
✅The article says the mayor was buying support, so he was bribing people for influence.
💡this use is about corruption, not ordinary shopping.

3. as the -ing form of 'buy', giving money or favours to keep someone from revealin

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

as the -ing form of 'buy', giving money or favours to keep someone from revealing information you want hidden

例句

The factory owner was buying a witness's silence after the chemical leak.

fixed pattern: buying someone's silence

Reporters suspected the singer was buying silence with expensive gifts.

buying silence with + gifts

同義詞
  • pay off

    common equivalent when money is used to keep someone quiet

  • buy off

    close phrasal equivalent that stresses silencing opposition

  • hush

    can mean suppressing disclosure, often by pressure or payment

反義詞
  • expose

    means making the hidden information public

  • report

    focuses on telling the authorities or the public

文法句型

buying someone's silence

buying silence with + money or gifts

buying someone off to keep quiet

用法筆記

Most often appears with 'silence' as the object. Distinguish it from sense 2: the goal here is specifically stopping disclosure of a secret, not gaining broader support.

常見錯誤

❌They were buying the witness to stay quiet.
✅They were buying the witness's silence.' or 'They were buying the witness off.
💡this sense is usually expressed with 'silence' or a similar secrecy phrase.
❌The company was buying silence, so it was purchasing quietness.
✅The company was buying silence, so it was paying people not to reveal the secret.
💡the phrase is figurative, not literal.

4. as the -ing form of 'buy', accepting a claim, excuse, or promise as true

4.動詞及物B2
釋義

as the -ing form of 'buy', accepting a claim, excuse, or promise as true

例句

The editor is not buying that excuse about the missing interview notes.

not buying + excuse

Ingrid was buying every promise the salesman made about the used car warranty.

同義詞
  • believe

    neutral and direct

  • accept

    slightly more formal and often used for explanations or claims

  • swallow

    informal and often suggests being too ready to believe something doubtful

反義詞
  • doubt

    means feeling unsure that the statement is true

  • question

    focuses on challenging the claim or excuse

文法句型

not buying + excuse or story

buying + promise

buying what someone says

用法筆記

This use is especially common in negatives and questions with words such as story, excuse, rumor, and promise. Distinguish it from sense 1: nothing is being paid for here.

常見錯誤

❌I bought her excuse, so I paid money for it.
✅I bought her excuse, so I believed it.
💡with an excuse, story, or promise, 'buy' is figurative.
❌The coach wasn't buying Leo's story, so he went to the shop.
✅The coach wasn't buying Leo's story, so he did not believe Leo.
💡this sense is about belief, not shopping.

buying — noun