plural bucks
1
a
informal
(1)
: dollar sense 3b
I only had a buck in my pocket.
Dinner cost twenty bucks.
(2)
: a sum of money especially to be gained
make a quick buck
b
US slang
—used in place of "hundred" in combination with other numbers
… as much at ease going 40 in First as it is doing a buck-twenty [=120 miles an hour] down the freeway …—
Hot Rod
Hot Rod2
or plural buck
: a male animal
especially
: a male deer or antelope
4
6
[short for sawbuck sawhorse]
a
: a supporting rack or frame
b
: a short thick leather-covered block for gymnastic vaulting
bucked; bucking; bucks
1
of a horse or mule
: to spring into the air with the back arched
2
: to charge against something
3
a
: to move or react jerkily
b
: to refuse assent : balk
4
: to strive for advancement sometimes without regard to ethical behavior
bucking for a promotion
1
b
archaic
: butt entry 3
2
: to throw or dislodge (a rider) by bucking
3
: to move or charge into
bucking a headwind
4
a
: to pass especially from one person to another
b
: to move or load (heavy or cumbersome objects) especially with mechanical equipment
bucker
noun
: stark, completely
buck naked
1
: responsibility
—used especially in the phrases pass the buck and the buck stops here
2
: an object formerly used in poker to mark the next player to deal
broadly
: a token used as a mark or reminder
: of the lowest grade within a military category or rank
Because he had not yet taken the Army's basic artillery course, he had to make do with a crash course from a buck sergeant … , who tutored him aboard the troopship General Walker.—Peter J. Boyer
see also buck private
Peter J. BoyerSynonyms
Examples of buck in a Sentence
Noun (1)
a vain buck who spends an hour before the bathroom mirror every morning
found some strong young bucks to help move her furniture
dropped a buck in the collection basket
hoping to win some major bucks at the slot machines
Verb
the car bucked and stalled
bucked the trend to outdo everyone else and just wore the same clothes they had in previous years
Recent Examples on the WebSteve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2024
San Diego is about the only area bucking this trend, with only about 18% of Millenials living in childhood homes.
—Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 11 May 2024
Getting thrown off a bucking bull then breaking a neck will end careers.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 May 2024
Guns stolen from cars bucked car theft trends overall — the rate of other things stolen from cars has dropped 11% over the last 10 years, even as the rate of gun thefts from cars grew 200%, Everytown found in its analysis of FBI data.
—TIME, 10 May 2024
Fewer tentpoles from the major studios after the dual Hollywood strikes didn’t stop Canadian exhibition giant Cineplex from bucking an industry trend and posting higher box office revenues in its first financial quarter of 2024.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 May 2024
While tightening customer wallets have affected the luxury industry, Prada has bucked the trend.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 8 May 2024
But those arguments will have to be very convincing to buck the market outcome most people are predicting will take place.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 May 2024
Although several labor unions, including United Steelworkers, are again backing Biden, many rank-and-file union members have bucked leadership to support Trump in the last two elections.
—Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 2 May 2024
And while large-format bottles might look grandiose, many offer surprising bang for your buck.
—Anna Lee Iijima, The Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2024
For a toy that'll give you the most bang for your buck, try this four-in-one floor toy, activity table, and push walker from Baby Einstein.
—Christine Luff, Parents, 22 Apr. 2024
Companies also sell credits directly to consumers of such things as plane tickets and rental cars, promising that a few extra bucks will cancel out the emissions created by the travel.
—Evan Halper, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
However, WalletHub’s study analyzed 21 key metrics of each reward package and found that Alaska Airlines will generally offer the best value for your buck.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 16 Apr. 2024
At just a couple of bucks, this set is extremely popular with 1,066 five-star ratings and more than 7,000 of them were purchased in the past month.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2024
Dave handed me over seven bucks in quarters and the Al Nelson balsa went up on the racks for the ride home.
—Corky Carroll, Orange County Register, 12 Apr. 2024
But economists warn that using them to do so is very expensive and offers minimal bang for your buck.
—Matt Stevens, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024
Verb
Scanning for oddities in the data, this one stands out: Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers’ 6-foot-5 first baseman, has the 14th shortest swing in MLB — even shorter than Betts’ swing — at 6.8 feet, bucking the general rule that tall players have longer swings.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2024
San Diego is about the only area bucking this trend, with only about 18% of Millenials living in childhood homes.
—Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 11 May 2024
Getting thrown off a bucking bull then breaking a neck will end careers.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 May 2024
Guns stolen from cars bucked car theft trends overall — the rate of other things stolen from cars has dropped 11% over the last 10 years, even as the rate of gun thefts from cars grew 200%, Everytown found in its analysis of FBI data.
—TIME, 10 May 2024
Fewer tentpoles from the major studios after the dual Hollywood strikes didn’t stop Canadian exhibition giant Cineplex from bucking an industry trend and posting higher box office revenues in its first financial quarter of 2024.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 May 2024
While tightening customer wallets have affected the luxury industry, Prada has bucked the trend.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 8 May 2024
But those arguments will have to be very convincing to buck the market outcome most people are predicting will take place.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 May 2024
Although several labor unions, including United Steelworkers, are again backing Biden, many rank-and-file union members have bucked leadership to support Trump in the last two elections.
—Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
Noun
That was that — a buck deer and a bull elk in two shots within 400 yards of each other.
—Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 2 May 2024
And while large-format bottles might look grandiose, many offer surprising bang for your buck.
—Anna Lee Iijima, The Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2024
For a toy that'll give you the most bang for your buck, try this four-in-one floor toy, activity table, and push walker from Baby Einstein.
—Christine Luff, Parents, 22 Apr. 2024
Companies also sell credits directly to consumers of such things as plane tickets and rental cars, promising that a few extra bucks will cancel out the emissions created by the travel.
—Evan Halper, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
However, WalletHub’s study analyzed 21 key metrics of each reward package and found that Alaska Airlines will generally offer the best value for your buck.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 16 Apr. 2024
At just a couple of bucks, this set is extremely popular with 1,066 five-star ratings and more than 7,000 of them were purchased in the past month.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2024
Dave handed me over seven bucks in quarters and the Al Nelson balsa went up on the racks for the ride home.
—Corky Carroll, Orange County Register, 12 Apr. 2024
But economists warn that using them to do so is very expensive and offers minimal bang for your buck.
—Matt Stevens, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'buck.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near buck
Cite this Entry
“Buck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buck. Accessed 20 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
buck
1 of 4 noun
plural bucks
1
or plural buck
: a male animal
especially
: a male deer or antelope
2
b
3
buck
2 of 4 verb1
a
: to spring into the air with the back arched
a bucking horse
b
: to throw (as a rider) by bucking
2
: to move or act against the action of
bucking a storm
buck a trend
3
: to move or start jerkily
bucker
noun
buck
3 of 4 noun
: an act or instance of bucking
buck
4 of 4 noun
: responsibility
pass the buck
Etymology
Noun
short for buckhorn knife, formerly used in poker to mark the next player to deal
Biographical Definition
Buck
2 of 2biographical name (2)
Pearl 1892–1973 née
Sydenstricker
ˈsī-dᵊn-ˌstri-kər 
American novelist
American novelist
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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