buoyed

American  

[boo-eed, boid] / ˈbu id, bɔɪd /

adjective

1. Nautical. marked with buoys, or distinctively marked floats.

   A buoyed channel guides ships into the inner lagoon.

   Swimming and snorkeling are restricted to the buoyed swimming area.

2. Nautical. made to float or rise in water by means of attached buoys or floats.

   To haul a trap, the lobsterman catches hold of the buoyed trap line with a gaff hook and hauls it up by hand.

3. sustained, encouraged, or supported.

   A buoyed Scotland team began the second half with renewed optimism.

   Following the win, the buoyed opposition leader attacked the chief minister, saying he should immediately tender his resignation.

4. enhanced or increased.

   Boston is really on a roll in 2017, with the greatest football team in the world, a buoyed economy, and packed streets and hotels.

   Despite buoyed expectations, experts nevertheless admit that the country is still lacking the means to fully realize its ambitious goals.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of buoy.

Other Word Forms

• unbuoyed
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of buoyed

buoy ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Though improved tourism flows and wealth effects from the housing recovery buoyed consumption, that has yet to translate into stronger business sentiment.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

Put another way, Daco says a small sliver of upper-income Americans buoyed by big increases in their stock investments are driving consumer spending, the main engine of U.S. economic growth.

From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026

Equities continued their recent strength, as all three major indexes rose more than 0.4%, buoyed by optimism over a peace deal to end the Iran war.

From Barron's • May 24, 2026

Then there’s last year’s ‘Deep Cover,’ which is buoyed by the likes of Orlando Bloom and Bryce Dallas Howard.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

All night she had hung above the floor, buoyed by the soft carpeting of mist that poured from the walls when she lay down to rest.

From "The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury