bypass

1 of 2

noun

by·​pass ˈbī-ˌpas How to pronounce bypass (audio)
1
: a passage to one side
especially : a deflected route usually around a town
2
a
: a channel carrying a fluid around a part and back to the main stream
(2)
: shunt sense 1c
also : a surgical procedure for the establishment of a shunt
have a coronary bypass

bypass

2 of 2

verb

bypassed; bypassing; bypasses

transitive verb

1
a
: to avoid by means of a bypass
bypass a congested area
b
: to cause to follow a bypass
2
a
: to neglect or ignore usually intentionally
b
: circumvent
attempting to bypass the law

Examples of bypass in a Sentence

Noun The bridge is being rebuilt so we'll have to take the bypass. Verb To bypass the city, take the highway that circles it. Is there a way to bypass the bridge construction? He bypassed the manager and talked directly to the owner. She managed to bypass the usual paperwork.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
When Colby was unable to come off of bypass after the surgery, the lawsuit says the surgeon should have gone back to the operating room. Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2024 The Army Corps needs to raise this section of North University Drive in order to operate the bypass channel north of downtown. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Feb. 2024 The sound wall is currently used to minimize noise from traffic on the bypass. Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC News, 14 Feb. 2024 Modular green ammonia production bypasses this need by directly synthesizing ammonia from nitrogen and renewable hydrogen. Starfire Energy, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2024 The setup also features coil-over shocks, custom control arms, a stabilizer bar, and three-inch-diameter Fox internal bypass shock absorbers. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 Jan. 2024 In the wild exploitation, probable nation state - includes authentication (including MFA) bypass and code execution. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 10 Jan. 2024 Microsoft was forced to fix a Windows Hello authentication bypass vulnerability in 2021, following a proof-of-concept that involved capturing an infrared image of a victim to spoof Windows Hello’s facial recognition feature. Tom Warren, The Verge, 22 Nov. 2023 The Oceanside City Council voted in August 2021 to spend $1 million on plans and permits for beach groins and a sand bypass system. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2023
Verb
This method allows the CBD to bypass the liver and be distributed throughout the body more quickly. Nick Mourtoupalas, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 Its availability over the counter allows people to bypass some of the financial hurdles associated with insurance providers. John Loeppky, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2024 The Times investigation found that parents can readily bypass the age restrictions of social platforms that bar children under 13 from having accounts. Vittoria Elliott, WIRED, 8 Mar. 2024 Apple is doing this in the name of compliance with the new Digital Markets Act antitrust law, but, as the Financial Times points out, the move also stymies developers who might use web apps to bypass Apple’s 30% commission on App Store purchases. David Meyer, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024 Under that rule, physicians who receive approvals 90% of the time on a prescription or service can bypass the prior authorization process permanently, and it has been shown to expedite care for patients. Joe Harpaz, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 More importantly for antitrust regulators, these apps were a way for developers to bypass Apple’s App store and associated fees. Bruce Gil, Quartz, 26 Feb. 2024 But the report also states that many redesigns would feature center left turn lanes, which emergency vehicles could use to bypass car traffic. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024 One option is a discharge petition, a rarely successful legislative maneuver that allows a majority of members to bring a bill to the floor, bypassing leadership in the process. Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bypass.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1736, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bypass was in 1736

Dictionary Entries Near bypass

Cite this Entry

“Bypass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bypass. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bypass

1 of 2 noun
by·​pass ˈbī-ˌpas How to pronounce bypass (audio)
: a passage to one side or around a blocked or very crowded area

bypass

2 of 2 verb
: to make a detour around
bypass a city

Medical Definition

bypass

noun
by·​pass ˈbī-ˌpas How to pronounce bypass (audio)
: a surgically established shunt
cardiopulmonary bypass of blood from the right atrium to the aorta
also : a surgical procedure for the establishment of a shunt

Note: When a bypass is performed on more than one coronary artery or branch, the number of times (double, triple, etc.) is often specified.

I was immediately scheduled for a triple bypass, but they decided to try an angioplasty. Terry Todd, Sports Illustrated
see coronary artery bypass, gastric bypass, jejunoileal bypass
bypass transitive verb

More from Merriam-Webster on bypass

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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