BUOY UP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does buoy up mean? 

• BUOY UP (verb)
  The verb BUOY UP has 3 senses:

1. become more cheerful

2. make more cheerful

3. keep afloat

  Familiarity information: BUOY UP used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BUOY UP (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Become more cheerful

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

buoy up; lighten; lighten up

Context example:

after a glass of wine, he lightened up a bit

Hypernyms (to "buoy up" is one way to...):

cheer; cheer up; chirk up (become cheerful)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make more cheerful

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

buoy up; lighten; lighten up

Context example:

the conversation lightened me up a bit

Hypernyms (to "buoy up" is one way to...):

cheer (show approval or good wishes by shouting)

Cause:

buoy up; lighten; lighten up (become more cheerful)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sense 3

Meaning:

Keep afloat

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

buoy; buoy up

Context example:

The life vest buoyed him up

Hypernyms (to "buoy up" is one way to...):

hold; hold up; support; sustain (be the physical support of; carry the weight of)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something