ˈbī 
before consonants also bə
1
: in proximity to : near
standing by the window
2
a
: into the vicinity of and beyond : past
went right by him
b
: through or through the medium (see medium entry 1 sense 2) of : via
enter by the door
c
: in the direction of : toward
sailed north by east
3
a
: during the course of
studied by night
b
: not later than
be there by 2 p.m.
4
a
: through the agency (see agency sense 3) or instrumentality of
a poem written by Keats
death by firing squad
taken by force
happened by luck
b
: born or begot of
had two sons by his first wife
one child by her second husband
c
: sired or borne by
having foals by champion race horses
5
: with the witness or sanction (see sanction entry 1 sense 4c) of
swear by all that is holy
6
a
: in conformity with
acted by the rules
b
: according to
called her by name
sold by the pound
7
—used as a function word in multiplication, in division, and in measurements
divide a by b
multiply 10 by 4
a room 15 feet by 20 feet
8
a
: with respect to
a lawyer by profession
b
: on behalf of
did right by his children
9
: in or to the amount or extent of
win by a nose
b
chiefly Scotland
: in comparison with : beside
10
—used as a function word to indicate successive units or increments
little by little
walk two by two
11
: in the opinion of : from the point of view of
OK by me
variants
or bye
1
: being off the main route : side
a by passage
2
: incidental
by effects
Synonyms
Examples of by in a Sentence
Preposition
His wife was sitting by him.
They have a house by the lake.
The bus went right by him without stopping.
Some friends stopped by our house for a chat.
Why don't you come by my place later?
Adverb
The bus went right by without stopping.
We stood and applauded as the parade went by.
Why don't you come by later?
Recent Examples on the Web
Utkarsh Shetti, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024
It’s all spanked along by one of those golly-gee bumptious holiday musical scores.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Watching the country roll by, from a plush train car can feel almost cinematic – not to mention there’s a certain satisfaction in knowing that rail travel is more environmentally sound than its alternatives.
—Madeline Fitzgerald, Quartz, 31 Oct. 2024
Julie Tate, New York Times, 22 May 2024
By the by, my girl Goldilocks just swung by with a third suggestion.
—Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 21 June 2024
David Beard, Car and Driver, 7 Feb. 2023
Running backs coach Mike Jinks reiterated USC wants to employ less of a by-committee approach this fall, and Ingram has the look of a workhorse, with the ability to do damage in space and between the tackles.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2021
See all Example Sentences for by 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Preposition
New vehicle sales in the US are projected to have risen 6.7% in November from a year earlier, driven by higher discounts to clear elevated inventory, according to a joint report by industry consultants J.D. Power and GlobalData on Wednesday.
—Utkarsh Shetti, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024
It’s all spanked along by one of those golly-gee bumptious holiday musical scores.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024
Adverb
If the polls are anything to go by, the 2024 presidential election is primed to be a very close contest between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Watching the country roll by, from a plush train car can feel almost cinematic – not to mention there’s a certain satisfaction in knowing that rail travel is more environmentally sound than its alternatives.
—Madeline Fitzgerald, Quartz, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
Three photographs obtained by The New York Times, along with accounts from a half-dozen neighbors and passers-by, show that the Appeal to Heaven flag was aloft at the Alito home on Long Beach Island in July and September of 2023.
—Julie Tate, New York Times, 22 May 2024
By the by, my girl Goldilocks just swung by with a third suggestion.
—Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 21 June 2024
Adjective
In theory, the manual should be a lap-time penalty, and the data shows our by-hand gearchanges losing some time to the automatic's quick shifts.
—David Beard, Car and Driver, 7 Feb. 2023
Running backs coach Mike Jinks reiterated USC wants to employ less of a by-committee approach this fall, and Ingram has the look of a workhorse, with the ability to do damage in space and between the tackles.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2021
See all Example Sentences for by
Articles Related to by
Dictionary Entries Near by
Cite this Entry
“By.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
by
1 of 3 preposition
(ˈ)bī
especially before consonants bə
1
: close to : near
by the sea
2
a
: so as to go along or through
by a different route
enter by the door
b
: past entry 2 sense 2
went right by them
4
: through the means or agency of
by force
5
: according to sense 1
by the rules
called by a different name
6
: with respect to
a doctor by profession
7
: to or in the amount or length of
win by a nose
sold by the pound
8
: in a series of
walk two by two
9
—used as a function word in multiplication and division and in measurements
divide 6 by 2
a room 15 feet by 20 feet
10
: in the opinion of
it's fine by me
by
2 of 3 adverb1
a
: close at hand : near
standing by
b
: at or to another's home
stop by for a chat
2
: past entry 4
cars went by
3
: aside entry 1 sense 2
putting some money by
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