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buy in

B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To buy a large amount of something to have in stock, or to get people to agree with and support your idea.

Literal meaning: To buy (something) in (inward, for storage or use).

Meanings

1 B2 neutral

To purchase a large quantity of goods or supplies to have available.

"The restaurant bought in extra supplies before the long holiday weekend."

Grammar: separable
2 C1 idiomatic formal

(Business) To gain the agreement, support, or acceptance of key people for a plan or idea.

"You need to buy in the senior team before you present the new strategy to the board."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

'Get buy-in' (noun) is very common in business English meaning to gain stakeholders' agreement and support. The commercial sense (buying stock in bulk) is common in retail and supply contexts. These senses are quite different; context makes the meaning clear.

Commonly used with

stock supplies support agreement stakeholders shares

Forms

Base
buy in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
buys in
he/she/it
Past simple
bought in
yesterday
Past participle
bought in
have + pp
-ing form
buying in
continuous

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Synonyms

stock up on purchase in bulk gain support secure agreement get on board invest in

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