buoy

American  

[boo-ee, boi] / ˈbu i, bɔɪ /

noun

• buoys
  plural

1. Nautical. a distinctively shaped and marked float, sometimes carrying a signal or signals, anchored to mark a channel, anchorage, navigational hazard, etc., or to provide a mooring place away from the shore.

2. a life buoy.

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verb (used with object)

• buoys,
  present (3rd person singular)
• buoyed,
  past participle,  past
• buoying
  present participle

1. to keep afloat or support by or as if by a life buoy; keep from sinking (often followed byup ).

   The life jacket buoyed her up until help arrived.

2. Nautical. to mark with a buoy or buoys.

3. to sustain or encourage (often followed byup ).

   Her courage was buoyed by the doctor's assurances.

   Synonyms:

   nurture, maintain, lighten, boost, uplift, lift

verb (used without object)

• buoys,
  present (3rd person singular)
• buoyed,
  past participle,  past
• buoying
  present participle

1. to float or rise by reason of lightness.

buoy British  

/ ˈbuːɪ, bɔɪ /

noun

1. a distinctively shaped and coloured float, anchored to the bottom, for designating moorings, navigable channels, or obstructions in a body of water See also life buoy

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verb

1. to prevent from sinking

   the belt buoyed him up

2. to raise the spirits of; hearten

3. (tr) nautical to mark (a channel or obstruction) with a buoy or buoys

4. (intr) to rise to the surface

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• buoys
  plural

Participles

• buoying
  present
• buoyed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• buoy
  simple
• buoys
  simple
• have buoyed
  perfect
• has buoyed
  perfect
• am buoying
  progressive
• are buoying
  progressive
• is buoying
  progressive
• have been buoying
  perfect progressive
• has been buoying
  perfect progressive

Past

• buoyed
  simple
• had buoyed
  perfect
• was buoying
  progressive
• were buoying
  progressive
• had been buoying
  perfect progressive

Future

• will buoy
  simple
• will have buoyed
  perfect
• will be buoying
  progressive
• will have been buoying
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of buoy

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English boye “a float,” from unattested Middle French boie, boue(e), from Germanic; akin to beacon

Explanation

A buoy is a floating marker that indicates the presence of underwater hazards, channels, or places for tying up boats. When buoy is a verb, it can mean to float like a buoy, literally or figuratively. Winning an award could buoy your spirits as if you are floating with pride. The verb buoy can mean "boost or increase." There aren't many things that will buoy your confidence as much as repeated compliments on how great your new haircut looks. Imagine seeing water buoy up an enormous swan, or the wind buoy up a kite. A more figurative meaning of buoy is to cheer or lift someone's spirits. One way to remember buoy's unusual spelling is the phrase, "Boats usually opt to steer around a buoy."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

buoy buoys buoyed buoying

At Miu Miu, Prada's more youthful line, the designer oversaw a stretch of soaring sales that helped buoy the company in an otherwise tough sales environment for luxury fashion.

From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026

Healey’s appointment by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham also helped buoy defense companies elsewhere in Europe.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

The defensive play helped buoy an otherwise precarious start by pitcher Eric Lauer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026

But even the strongest sequences, like the opening scene where Teyana Taylor references her Oscar loss, filmed only a few months ago, can’t buoy those that flatline on arrival.

From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026

I saw the buoy line of a fishing net at the surface of the water.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

"We spotted life buoys and a lifeboat but it was empty. Unfortunately, no survivors have been found so far," he said, indicating that search and rescue operations were ongoing.

From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026

“The Jewish community sort of buoys him up and brings him back,” O’Brien said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

Scientists monitoring data from satellites and ocean buoys declared the onset of El Niño in June.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

The buoys mark a voluntary no-anchor zone, to encourage water users to avoid anchoring, reduce seabed damage, and protect declining seagrass habitats.

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026

Some dived below, while others swam toward floating jerricans that served as buoys on a fishing net.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Scotland fans should be buoyed by the new head coach recognising the problems in his team and then fixing them.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

Reigning Masters champion McIlroy's hopes of winning a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title were also buoyed by the withdrawal of Patrick Reed after nine holes.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

OTTAWA—Canadian wholesale trade was buoyed in July by a rise in sales of metal products.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

The rescue of three workers from deep inside tunnels -- two Nepalis on Friday and a Chinese man on Saturday -- buoyed hopes of finding other survivors.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

The only completely stationary object in the room was an enormous couch on which two young women were buoyed up as though upon an anchored balloon.

From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Also on the BIS list were concerns over the longevity of the artificial intelligence investment boom, which has been buoying global growth and keeping it going through crises like last year's tariff hikes.

From Barron's ● Jun. 28, 2026

Gauges of Asia factory activity showed more evidence of supply-chain disruptions from the Middle East war, with stockpiling buoying production as cost pressures intensify.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 2026

Kalia believes the company casts a “wide net” across the identity market, buoying growing demand for the platform.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 20, 2026

Prospects of an extended U.S.-Iran cease-fire are buoying tech fortunes by potentially reducing energy prices.

From Barron's ● Apr. 17, 2026

He had a simple, buoying faith that if you stuck to your principles, things would work out.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• beacon