thereby

adverb

there·​by t͟her-ˈbī 

ˈt͟her-ˌbī

1

: by that : by that means

thereby lost her chance to win

2

: connected with or with reference to that

thereby hangs a tale

—William Shakespeare

Examples of thereby in a Sentence

He signed the contract, thereby forfeiting his right to the property.

Recent Examples on the Web

Members of Johnson's administration and the City Attorney's Office who presented the ordinance to the council's Public Works Committee expressed a sense of urgency to pass it and thereby open the permit application process to avoid a potential lawsuit. —Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024

Significant changes to states’ public-sector labor laws beginning in the 1960s, however, granted teachers’ unions the ability to collectively bargain with state and local governments, thereby providing these organizations with an opportunity to convert teachers ... —Maddie Dermon, National Review, 17 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing thereby

• thereby hangs a tale

Kids Definition

thereby

adverb

there·​by t͟ha(ə)r-ˈbī 

t͟he(ə)r-;

ˈt͟ha(ə)r-ˌbī,

ˈt͟he(ə)r-

1

: by that : by that means

thereby lost her chance to win

2

: connected with or with reference to that

thereby hangs a tale