1 B2 idiomatic neutral
To make someone feel more cheerful, confident, or optimistic.
"The unexpected good news buoyed up the whole team just when they needed it most."
separable
buoy up
B2 neutral separable transitive
To keep someone cheerful or confident, or to keep something from declining.
In plain English
To help someone stay happy and hopeful, or to keep prices or levels from falling.
What does "buoy up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic formal
To prevent prices, numbers, or levels from falling; to support them artificially or otherwise.
"Strong consumer demand helped buoy up retail sales throughout the winter quarter."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To keep something floating on water like a buoy.
Actually means
To help someone stay happy and hopeful, or to keep prices or levels from falling.
Usage tip
Used both for emotional support (buoying a person's spirits) and in economic/financial contexts (buoying prices or markets). More common in written or formal contexts than in casual speech.
Words that pair with "buoy up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
spirits confidence morale prices market economy
How to conjugate "buoy up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
buoy up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
buoys up
he/she/it
Past simple
buoyed up
yesterday
Past participle
buoyed up
have + pp
-ing form
buoying up
continuous
Hear "buoy up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "buoy up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.