by 1 of 2

preposition

ˈbī How to pronounce by (audio)
Definition of bynext
1
as in via
along the way of went by the woods to get to the summer cottage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in with
using the means or agency of try to convince them by reason alone, if possible

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in around
close to that house is right by the ocean

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in during
in the course of she attends college by day and works at the club by night

Synonyms & Similar Words

by

2 of 2

adverb

ˈbī How to pronounce by (audio)
as in in
at, within, or to a short distance or time the library is close by

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of by
Preposition
Katy Rudd is set to direct with set and costume designs by Tony-winning Rob Howell (Matilda the Musical) and choreography from Ellen Kane. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026 The scents are housed in bottles designed by artist Ashley Longshore that are meant to be collectible. — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
Adverb
Hours three and four fly by, interrupted only by a young male black bear crossing our path. — Johanna Wolfe, Robb Report, 22 Aug. 2026 For spacing purposes, Steele has removed the following words – left, at, by, went, had, in, the, to, for, and, then and got – and has crafted his own abbreviations. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for by
Recent Examples of Synonyms for by
  1. via
  2. with
  3. around
  4. during
  5. in
  6. through
  7. near
  8. throughout
Preposition
  • Parton’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death via a video announcement on Facebook.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The entity was converted into a public company in 2012, and went public via a dual IPO on Malaysian bourse Bursa Malaysia and the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX).
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of via
Preposition
  • Witnesses had testified to the heated gang rivalry between the South Side Compton Crips and Mob Piru, which were associated with dueling record companies Bad Boy Records and Death Row Records.
    — Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Over the following two and a half years, the data center will incrementally ramp its load up to a minimum bill demand of 480 megawatts with a maximum contract demand of 600 megawatts, the memo said.
    — Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of with
Preposition
  • Assertive Mars clashes with your ruler Saturn, highlighting tension around your home, family, or the amount of emotional labor each person carries.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • On the left, Harvey Barnes is currently first-choice, while Newcastle agreed a deal potentially rising to around £50million for Bazoumana Toure in July.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of around
Preposition
  • Moments before, with Wells still at the plate and the Yankees leading 7-1, Flemming and color analyst Will Middlebrooks vented about Chisholm stealing second base and third base during the at-bat.
    — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • This past week, Los Angeles theme parks had more humidity than their Orlando counterparts, something CBSLA chief meteorologist Paul Deanno says he’s never encountered during his career.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of during
Adverb
  • The partnership between two outsiders clawing their way in, joined by an equally canny journalist played by Claire Foy, comes to shape Fleet Street, the London thoroughfare where scribblers plied their trade, in Lamb’s and Murdoch’s images.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Shares of Nvidia which had initially declined slightly after the earnings report, reversed course and increased by more than 5% in after hours trading as company executives discussed the results on the conference call.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of in
Preposition
  • The first established the system in flight, while the latest evaluation added further data from multiple rounds launched through HIMARS.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
  • One bright spot for Lake Zurich was senior quarterback Joey Wessman, who found some success through the air.
    — Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of through
Preposition
  • Oswego avoided sending the ball near the speedy Konkey on kickoffs to prevent a repeat of last week’s scoring on a return.
    — Jerry Birchfield, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The mother and daughter are among 90 Americans missing after the devastating landslide and flood, which tore through steep mountain gorges near the Nepal-China border and surged downstream along a river, wiping out entire villages.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of near
Preposition
  • Dolly Parton's impact can be felt throughout the United States, including in Washington DC, where library officials said more than 100,000 children in the city benefitted through her Books from Birth program.
    — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Coltrane is also deeply interested in the Buddhist principles of karma and dharma, or the moral duties and obligations to a right way of life, which are sprinkled throughout the novel.
    — Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of throughout

Browse Nearby Words

buzz (off)
by
by all means
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“By.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/by. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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