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

SPX continues to be buoyed by traders playing “catch-up” after having missed the swift upward turn in the market.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026

Prices for diesel fuel and finished motor gasoline were both up sharply, buoyed by the steep rise in crude energy products.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

Tech company fortunes appear to have been buoyed by the prospect of an extended U.S.-Iran cease-fire—initially set to expire April 22.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

Asian currencies consolidated against the dollar in early trade, but may be buoyed by hopes for a possible U.S.-Iran deal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

When he turned it on, the usual faint smell of negative ions surged from the power supply; he breathed in eagerly, already buoyed up.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick