A buoyA floating object used to mark a place in the water. can be a floating marker in the water, or it can mean to keep something afloatFloating on top of the water, not sinking. or support it. In everyday usage, the verbA word that shows an action, state, or process. sense is less common than the noun sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /bɔɪ/
Easy pronunciation: BOY (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable, stressed.
Noun: a floating marker in water.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Buoy Meaning
a float in the water that marks a place
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a floating marker anchored in water to show safe channels or warn about hazards
Example: The boat stayed near the buoy to avoid the rocks.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Buoy
Meaning 2
keep something floating or lifted up
Part of speech: verb
Definition: keep afloat or support so that it does not sink or fall
Example: The life vest buoyed him up.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- buoy up — Direct dictionary synonym for this verb sense.
Meaning 3
stay floating on top of the water
Part of speech: verb
Definition: float on the surface of water
Example: Leaves buoyed on the river after the rain.
Meaning 4
show a place with a buoy
Part of speech: verb
Definition: mark with a buoy
Example: The harbor was buoyed to guide incoming ships.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Buoy Synonyms
keep afloat; support
- buoy up
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse the noun buoy with the verb buoy.
- Do not use buoy as a general synonym for 'support' unless the meaning is specifically about keeping something afloat or lifted up.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does buoy mean?
Buoy most commonly means a floating marker in the water. As a verb, it can mean to keep something afloat or supported.
What is a synonym for buoy?
For the verb sense, buoy up is the direct synonym in the supplied data. The noun sense usually does not have a simple one-word synonym.
Is buoy a noun or a verb?
It can be both. The most common everyday meaning is the noun for a floating water marker.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.