bought

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "bought" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a past tense verb, usually in reference to the purchase of something. For example: "Yesterday, I bought a new car."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Forbes ranks it as the second-largest private company in the country, after Cargill, and its consistent profitability has made David and Charles Koch—who, years ago, bought out two other brothers—among the richest men in America.

The Economist

Property aside, what's the most expensive thing you've bought?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The result was that IKB, the German bank in this deal, bought $150 million of notes in this C.D.O.

The Economist

First, Amec chief executive Samir Brikho is a boss who buys, and has bought well in the past.

The Guardian

"The show was substantially removed from the show that they bought," remembers Pattinson.

The Guardian

He has, he explains, been an Abba devotee since 1974, when he bought their single So Long for 10p in Woolworths.

The Guardian - Music

BMDH on Dodger I hadn't read any of Terry Pratchett's books before, but when my granddad bought this book for me for Christmas I got straight into it.

The Guardian

We've bought into the charity line that these full-on formats are a necessary evil.

The Guardian - Opinion

Nhulunbuy, in remote north-east Arnhem Land, is a town owned and operated by Rio Tinto since 2007, when the mining company bought the Gove bauxite mine and refinery, established in 1963.

The Guardian

Always a crowded but friendly dive, owner Jack Prince bought the joint next door several years ago and knocked out a wall, so that now you can even sit down, enjoy the dusty PBR ads on the wall or, even better, listen to live music.

The Guardian - Travel

"I am upset at the suggestion I and public policy could be bought," he said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bought" to clearly indicate a past transaction where money was exchanged for goods or services.

Common error

Avoid using "brought" when you mean "bought". "Brought" means to carry or convey something to a place, while "bought" means to purchase something with money.

Linguistic Context

The word "bought" functions primarily as a past tense verb, indicating a completed action of purchasing something. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "bought", the past tense of "buy", is a very common and grammatically correct term used to describe a completed purchase. As Ludwig AI indicates, its primary function is as a past tense verb. It frequently appears in neutral contexts such as news and media, and is also present in formal and business communications. While straightforward, it is important to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words like "brought". Alternatives such as "purchased" or "acquired" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

purchased

A formal synonym that emphasizes the act of buying something.

paid for

Highlights the act of giving money for a product or service.

acquired

Indicates obtaining something, not necessarily through monetary exchange.

obtained

Implies gaining possession of something, which could be through purchase or other means.

secured

Indicates obtaining something, often after competition or effort.

procured

Suggests obtaining something with effort or care, often for a specific purpose.

invested in

Specifically refers to purchasing something with the expectation of future benefit or profit.

picked up

An informal way of saying "bought", often used for small or inexpensive items.

got

A simple and informal way to express the act of buying.

came into possession of

A more formal and descriptive way to express acquiring something.

FAQs

How do I use "bought" in a sentence?

"Bought" is the past tense of "buy" and is used to describe a completed purchase. For example, "I "bought" a new car yesterday."

What are some alternatives to the word "bought"?

Depending on the context, you could use "purchased", "acquired", or "obtained" as alternatives to "bought".

Is it correct to say "I have bought" or "I bought"?

Both are correct, but they have slightly different usages. "I bought" is simple past tense, while "I have bought" is present perfect tense, indicating an action completed at an unspecified time in the past.

What's the difference between "bought" and "brought"?

"Bought" is the past tense of "buy", meaning to purchase. "Brought" is the past tense of "bring", meaning to carry something to a place. It's a common source of confusion.