Synonyms of by

by 1 of 2

preposition

ˈbī 

1

as in via

along the way of

went by the woods to get to the summer cottage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• via
• through
• across
• along
• under
• near
• by way of
• beyond
• over
• beneath
• below
• alongside
• outside
• throughout
• nearby
• underneath
• past

2

as in with

using the means or agency of

try to convince them by reason alone, if possible

Synonyms & Similar Words

• with
• via
• through
• in
• per
• by means of
• by dint of
• in virtue of
• by virtue of

3

as in around

close to

that house is right by the ocean

Synonyms & Similar Words

• around
• near
• at
• beside
• about
• next door to
• across
• along
• towards
• alongside
• next to
• nigh
• toward
• circa

4

as in during

in the course of

she attends college by day and works at the club by night

Synonyms & Similar Words

• during
• throughout
• through
• amidst
• amid
• over
• pending

by

2 of 2

adverb

ˈbī 

as in in

at, within, or to a short distance or time

the library is close by

Synonyms & Similar Words

• in
• close
• near
• nearby
• at hand
• within call
• around
• at close quarters
• nigh
• alongside
• along
• hard
• on one's doorstep
• hereabout
• hereaways
• hereabouts
• hereaway
• thereabout
• conveniently
• thereabouts
• handily
• accessibly

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of by

Preposition

The protagonists of the two parallel stories told in the film are a woman from an ethnic minority, portrayed by Victoria Chakma in her screen debut, and a man who is a member of the majority population, played by Bangladeshi actor Mostafa Monwar. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2025

She’s once again played by Amie Donald (face fused with FX) and by Jenna Davis, who supplies that voice of snarky spun sugar. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 25 June 2025

Adverb

What happened to long, languid summer days, lying next to your best friend under a maple tree, watching elephants float by in the clouds and picking up wide blades of grass to trumpet nature’s music? —Patricia Steckler, Baltimore Sun, 18 June 2025

Several bottles of prosecco decorated with sparklers walk by. —Natalie Meade, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2025