buck

[ buhk ]

/ bʌk /

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See synonyms for buck on Thesaurus.com

noun

the male of the deer, antelope, rabbit, hare, sheep, or goat.

the male of certain other animals, as the shad.

an impetuous, dashing, or spirited man or youth.

Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to an American Indian male or an African American male.

buckskin.

bucks, casual oxford shoes made of buckskin, often in white or a neutral color.

adjective

Military. of the lowest of several ranks involving the same principal designation, hence subject to promotion within the rank: buck private; buck sergeant.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of buck

First recorded before 1000; Middle English bukke, Old English bucca “he-goat,” bucc “male deer”; cognate with Dutch bok, German Bock, Old Norse bukkr; defs. 5, 6, by shortening

Other definitions for buck (2 of 9)

buck²

[ buhk ]

/ bʌk /

verb (used without object)

(of a saddle or pack animal) to leap with arched back and come down with head low and forelegs stiff, in order to dislodge a rider or pack.

Informal. to resist or oppose obstinately; object strongly: The mayor bucked at the school board's suggestion.

(of a vehicle, motor, or the like) to operate unevenly; move by jerks and bounces.

verb (used with object)

to throw or attempt to throw (a rider or pack) by bucking.

to force a way through or proceed against (an obstacle): The plane bucked a strong headwind.

to strike with the head; butt.

to resist or oppose obstinately; object strongly to.

Football. (of a ball-carrier) to charge into (the opponent's line).

to gamble, play, or take a risk against: He was bucking the odds when he bought that failing business.

to press a reinforcing device against (the force of a rivet) in order to absorb vibration and increase expansion.

noun

an act of bucking.

Verb Phrases

buck for, to strive for a promotion or some other advantage: to buck for a raise.

buck up, to make or become more cheerful, vigorous, etc.: She knew that with a change of scene she would soon buck up.

Origin of buck

First recorded in 1845–50; verbal use of buck¹, influenced in some senses by buck³

Other definitions for buck (3 of 9)

buck³

[ buhk ]

/ bʌk /

noun

a sawbuck; sawhorse.

Gymnastics. a cylindrical, leather-covered block mounted in a horizontal position on a single vertical post set in a steel frame, for use chiefly in vaulting.

any of various heavy frames, racks, or jigs used to support materials or partially assembled items during manufacture, as in airplane assembly plants.

Also called door buck . a doorframe of wood or metal set in a partition, especially one of light masonry, to support door hinges, hardware, finish work, etc.

verb (used with object)

U.S. and Canadian to split or saw (logs, felled trees, etc.).

Verb Phrases

buck in, Surveying, Optical Tooling. to set up an instrument in line with two marks.

Origin of buck

First recorded in 1855–60; short for sawbuck¹

Other definitions for buck (4 of 9)

buck⁴

[ buhk ]

/ bʌk /

noun

Poker. any object in the pot that reminds the winner of some privilege or obligation when their turn to deal next comes.

verb (used with object)

to pass (something) along to another, especially as a means of avoiding responsibility or blame: He bucked the letter on to the assistant vice president to answer.

Origin of buck

⁴

First recorded in 1860–65; short for buckhorn knife, used as a reminder in poker

Other definitions for buck (5 of 9)

buck⁵

[ buhk ]

/ bʌk /

adverb Informal.

completely; stark: buck naked.

Origin of buck

⁵

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30; of obscure origin

Other definitions for buck (6 of 9)

buck⁶

[ buhk ]

/ bʌk /

noun Slang.

a dollar.

Origin of buck

⁶

An Americanism dating to 1855–60; perhaps buck¹ in sense “buckskin” (deerskins were used by Indians and frontiersmen as a unit of exchange in transactions with merchants)

Other definitions for buck (7 of 9)

buck⁷

[ buhk ]

/ bʌk /

verb (used without object), noun Indian English.

bukh.

Other definitions for buck (8 of 9)

buck⁸

[ buhk ]

/ bʌk /

British Dialect

noun

lye used for washing clothes.

clothes washed in lye.

verb (used with object)

to wash or bleach (clothes) in lye.

Origin of buck

⁸

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb bouken; compare Middle Low German buken, büken “to steep in lye,” Middle High German būchen, German bäuchen, beuchen

Other definitions for buck (9 of 9)

Buck

[ buhk ]

/ bʌk /

noun

Pearl (Sy·den·strick·er)

[sahyd-n-strik-er], /ˈsaɪd nˌstrɪk ər/, 1892–1973, U.S. novelist: Nobel Prize 1938.

a male given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use buck in a sentence

Maryland’s performance Saturday bucked those trends and offered a tangible sign of progress for Locksley and his staff.
Maryland’s newcomers lead the way in stunning rout at Penn State|Emily Giambalvo|November 8, 2020|Washington Post
I hold my breath as the buck quarters toward me in a clearing only 25 yards away.
Has technology made us worse hunters?|By Henry Bunn/Outdoor Life|October 27, 2020|Popular-Science
These receptors turned out to be a genetic goldmine for which, along with other work on the organization of the olfactory system, Buck and Axel received the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Our Mind-Boggling Sense of Smell - Issue 91: The Amazing Brain|Ann-Sophie Barwich|October 14, 2020|Nautilus
I found myself encouraged by his openness to new ideas and willingness to buck assumptions.
How Biking Across America Formed an Unlikely Friendship|Raffi Joe Wartanian|October 8, 2020|Outside Online

Five GOP members of the Judiciary Committee, including Buck, signed on.
House panel proposes largest antitrust reforms in decades to rein in Big Tech|kdunn6|October 7, 2020|Fortune
Bucking and running into the forest, the deer collapsed dead in a litter of leaves.
Inside The Growing Organic Halal Movement|Sharon Adarlo|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 2012, Obama pulled a relatively weak 60 percent of the 18-29 vote, with Mitt Romney bucking up to 36 percent.
Hillary's Got a Millennial Problem|Nick Gillespie|August 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In a fashion industry geared toward turning straight men on, these models are bucking the male gaze.
Cara Delevingne, Ireland Baldwin, and How Sexually Uninhibited Models Are Bucking the Male Gaze|Amanda Marcotte|July 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Republicans are finally bucking Grover Norquist and bending on taxes.
Democrats Must Step Up on Entitlement Reform for Fiscal Cliff Deal|John Avlon|November 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
This mashup bids you examine whether you are righteously renegade in situations, or bucking authority due to old issues with it.
Your Week: What the Stars Predict|Starsky + Cox|August 28, 2011|DAILY BEAST
You can take it out of me afterwards, if you like, but don't take it out of me now by—by not bucking up just because I suggest it.
First Plays|A. A. Milne
The horse, frightened by the motor-cycle, was bucking and leaping sideways at the roadside.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
If they make any objection to this arrangement, we will break them into subjection with the cow-hide and the bucking-paddle.
The Duty of Disobedience to the Fugitive Slave Act|Lydia Maria Child
The lad quickly saddled his own mount after a lively little struggle and much squealing and bucking from the pony.
The Pony Rider Boys in Texas|Frank Gee Patchin
He wouldn't feel at home on a horse that didn't break the monotony by bucking now and then.
The Pony Rider Boys in Texas|Frank Gee Patchin

British Dictionary definitions for buck (1 of 5)

buck¹

/ (bʌk) /

noun

the male of various animals including the goat, hare, kangaroo, rabbit, and reindeer
(as modifier)a buck antelope

Southern African an antelope or deer of either sex

US informal a young man

archaic a robust spirited young man

archaic a dandy; fop

the act of bucking

verb

(intr) (of a horse or other animal) to jump vertically, with legs stiff and back arched

(tr) (of a horse, etc) to throw (its rider) by bucking

(when intr , often foll by against) informal, mainly US and Canadian to resist or oppose obstinatelyto buck against change; to buck change

(tr; usually passive) informal to cheer or encourageI was very bucked at passing the exam

US and Canadian informal (esp of a car) to move forward jerkily; jolt

US and Canadian to charge against (something) with the head down; butt

Derived forms of buck

bucker, noun

Word Origin for buck

Old English bucca he-goat; related to Old Norse bukkr, Old High German bock, Old Irish bocc

British Dictionary definitions for buck (2 of 5)

buck²

/ (bʌk) /

noun

US, Canadian and Australian informal a dollar

Southern African informal a rand

a fast buck easily gained money

bang for one's buck See bang 1 (def. 15)

Word Origin for buck

C19: of obscure origin

British Dictionary definitions for buck (3 of 5)

buck³

/ (bʌk) /

noun

gymnastics a type of vaulting horse

US and Canadian a stand for timber during sawingAlso called (in Britain and certain other countries): sawhorse

verb

(tr) US and Canadian to cut (a felled or fallen tree) into lengths

Word Origin for buck

C19: short for sawbuck

British Dictionary definitions for buck (4 of 5)

buck⁴

/ (bʌk) /

noun

poker a marker in the jackpot to remind the winner of some obligation when his turn comes to deal

pass the buck informal to shift blame or responsibility onto another

the buck stops here informal the ultimate responsibility lies here

Word Origin for buck

C19: probably from buckhorn knife, placed before a player in poker to indicate that he was the next dealer

British Dictionary definitions for buck (5 of 5)

Buck

/ (bʌk) /

noun

Pearl S (ydenstricker). 1892–1973, US novelist, noted particularly for her novel of Chinese life The Good Earth (1931): Nobel prize for literature 1938

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with buck

buck

In addition to the idioms beginning with buck

buck for
buckle down
buckle under
buckle up
buck stops here, the
buck up

also see:

big bucks
fast buck
more bang for the buck
pass the buck

buck

Origin of buck

Other definitions for buck (2 of 9)

Origin of buck

Other definitions for buck (3 of 9)

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Other definitions for buck (4 of 9)

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Other definitions for buck (5 of 9)

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Other definitions for buck (6 of 9)

Origin of buck

Other definitions for buck (7 of 9)

Other definitions for buck (8 of 9)

Origin of buck

Other definitions for buck (9 of 9)

Words related to buck

How to use buck in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for buck (1 of 5)

Derived forms of buck

Word Origin for buck

British Dictionary definitions for buck (2 of 5)

Word Origin for buck

British Dictionary definitions for buck (3 of 5)

Word Origin for buck

British Dictionary definitions for buck (4 of 5)

Word Origin for buck

British Dictionary definitions for buck (5 of 5)

Other Idioms and Phrases with buck