by

¹by

prep \ˈbī, before consonants also bə\

Definition of BY

1

: in proximity to : near <standing by the window>

2

a : through or through the medium of : via <enter by the door> b : in the direction of : toward <north by east> c : into the vicinity of and beyond : past <went right by him>

3

a : during the course of <studied by night> b : not later than <by 2 p.m.>

4

a : through the agency or instrumentality of <by force> b : born or begot of c : sired or borne by

5

: with the witness or sanction of <swear by all that is holy>

6

a : in conformity with <acted by the rules> b : according to <called her by name>

7

a : on behalf of <did right by his children> b : with respect to <a lawyer by profession>

8

a : in or to the amount or extent of <win by a nose> b chiefly Scottish : in comparison with : beside

9

—used as a function word to indicate successive units or increments <little by little> <walk two by two>

10

—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>

11

: in the opinion of : from the point of view of <okay by me>

— by the by or by the bye

: incidentally 2

Examples of BY

1. His wife was sitting by him.
2. They have a house by the lake.
3. The bus went right by him without stopping.
4. Some friends stopped by our house for a chat.
5. Why don't you come by my place later?

Origin of BY

Middle English, preposition & adverb, from Old English, preposition, be, bī; akin to Old High German bī by, near, Latin ambi- on both sides, around, Greek amphi

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to BY

Synonyms: through, via, by way of, by dint of, by means of, (or in) virtue of

Related Words: across, along, alongside, beyond, near, nearby, over; below, beneath, under, underneath; outside, past; throughout

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with BY

ay, aye, bi, Bligh, buy, bye, chai, chi, cry, die, dry, dye, eye, fie, fly, fry, guy, hie, high, Huai, i, I, lie, lye, my, nigh, phi, pi, pie, ply, pry, psi, rye, scythe, shy, sigh, sky, Skye, sly, spry, spy, sty, Tai, Thai, thigh, thy, tie, try, vie, why, wry, wye, xi, Y