bought

bought

She bought a new bicycle at the shop.

Definition
  1. Verb (past tense and past participle of ):
    • To obtain in exchange for payment: "bought" refers to the action of acquiring something by paying money for it.
    • To bribe or corrupt: In a figurative sense, "bought" can mean to gain someone's favor or influence through payment or gifts.
    • To achieve at a cost: It can also mean to obtain something through sacrifice or effort.
Usage Examples
  • To obtain by payment:

    • She bought a new car last week. (She paid money and received a car.)
    • He bought groceries for the entire family. (He purchased food items.)
  • To bribe:

    • The official was bought off with a large sum of money. (The official was corrupted through a bribe.)
  • To achieve at a cost:

    • They bought peace with a painful compromise. (They achieved peace through a difficult sacrifice.)
Advanced Usage
  • "bought and paid for": Fully purchased or secured, often with a sense of complete control or ownership.

    • The politician was bought and paid for by corporate interests. (The politician was entirely controlled by corporate money.)
  • "bought time": Delayed an event or outcome, often through temporary measures.

    • The medicine bought him a few more months of life. (The medicine provided extra time before his condition worsened.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Buy (verb, present tense): the base form.

    • I buy milk every morning. (I purchase milk regularly.)
  • Buyer (noun): a person who purchases something.

    • The buyer inspected the house carefully. (The person buying the house examined it.)
  • Buyout (noun): the purchase of a company or controlling interest.

    • The buyout of the small firm was completed yesterday. (The purchase of the company was finished.)
Synonyms
  • Purchased: obtained by paying money.

    • She purchased the painting at an auction. (She bought the painting.)
  • Acquired: obtained or gained possession of.

    • He acquired a rare book from the dealer. (He bought the book.)
  • Corrupted (for bribery sense): made dishonest through payment.

    • The witness was corrupted by the defendant. (The witness was bribed.)
Phrasal Verbs
  • bought out: purchased all shares or ownership of a business.

    • They bought out their competitor to gain market share. (They purchased the entire competitor company.)
  • bought up: purchased all available stock of something.

    • Investors bought up all the rare coins. (They purchased every coin available.)
Related Idioms
  • bought a pig in a poke: purchased something without inspecting it, often leading to disappointment.

    • He bought a pig in a poke when he ordered the car online without seeing it. (He made a risky purchase.)
  • bought the farm: died (slang, often used in military contexts).

    • The soldier bought the farm in the battle. (The soldier was killed in action.)