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• buy-in
  buy-in

  noun

  an act or instance of buying in.
• buy in
  buy in

  verb

  (tr) to buy back for the owner (an item in an auction) at or below the reserve price

buy-in

American  

[bahy-in] / ˈbaɪˌɪn /

noun

1. an act or instance of buying in.

2. the deliberate submission of a false bid, too low to be met, in order to win a contract.

3. Poker. the chips purchased by a player from the banker, occasionally a set amount required to enter a specific competition or game.

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buy in British  

verb

1. (tr) to buy back for the owner (an item in an auction) at or below the reserve price

2. (intr) to purchase shares in a company

3. (intr) to buy goods or securities on the open market against a defaulting seller, charging this seller with any market differences

4. Also: buy into.  informal (tr) to pay money to secure a position or place for (someone, esp oneself) in some organization, esp a business or club

5. to purchase (goods, etc) in large quantities

   to buy in for the winter

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noun

1. the purchase of a company by a manager or group who does not work for that company

Etymology

Origin of buy-in

Noun use of verb phrase buy in

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

buy-in buy in

The city, they argue, can’t afford to wait on alternative programs that require study, money and public buy-in that could take years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

Companies like Microsoft, OpenAI and Amazon need the public’s buy-in to avoid speed bumps, maintain political support and curb blowback.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

Pedestrianisation requires a lot of buy-in, not just from people and shoppers, but all kinds of businesses that call the city centre home.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

With those, you’d put down cash for a buy-in and then likely pay a monthly maintenance fee like you would with a condo.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026

“But you need buy-in from everyone in the group. Give it some more thought. How can you help the shelter? How can each of you get something out of the experience?”

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty

Larger companies are better poised to absorb some of the shock of increased prices through higher profit margins and the ability to buy in bulk, Vyas said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

The median cost to buy in the Los Angeles area was $4,836 per month, while the median rent for the same size homes was $2,787, a $2,049 difference.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

Spot-on treatments to prevent parasite infestations in fur and on skin are currently widely available for pet owners to buy in supermarkets and online.

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

“I really hope consumers can get back to trusting the fruits and vegetables they buy in stores, because they generally are safe.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

“A pale mauve abba such as you buy in the East.”

From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie