by numbers
idiom
: in a way that follows the rules or instructions but that is not interesting or original
Dancing by numbers isn't good enough. You have to really feel the music.
Examples of by numbers in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In my city, Baltimore our Mayor Brandon Scott has led in decreasing violent crime rates by numbers not seen in the past six decades.
—
Kevin A. Slayton Sr, Baltimore Sun, 18 Aug. 2025
That urgency is underscored by numbers: OpenAI recently crossed 700 million weekly active users, equivalent to 8 percent of the world’s population, and server demand continues to climb.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Identified only by numbers, the custodial droids are a nice touch.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025
But also not to be put off by numbers and competition, that's so easily done now, by social media, peer pressure, likes and the modern day following count, none of that at all.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for by numbers
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Kevin A. Slayton Sr, Baltimore Sun, 18 Aug. 2025
That urgency is underscored by numbers: OpenAI recently crossed 700 million weekly active users, equivalent to 8 percent of the world’s population, and server demand continues to climb.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Identified only by numbers, the custodial droids are a nice touch.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025
But also not to be put off by numbers and competition, that's so easily done now, by social media, peer pressure, likes and the modern day following count, none of that at all.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for by numbers
Cite this Entry
“By numbers.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20numbers. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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