1. keeping something afloat on water
Usage: nautical; present participle of buoy
2. lifting someone’s spirits or confidence; encouraging
Usage: figurative use; present participle of buoy

Examples

• The life jacket was buoying him in the rough water.
• Cork is excellent at buoying objects on the surface.
• Her encouraging words were buoying his confidence before the interview.
• The good news was buoying everyone’s spirits.
• The foam padding is buoying the package during shipping.
• His optimism kept buoying the team through difficult times.