by the numbers
phrase
1
: in unison to a specific count or cadence
2
: in a systematic, routine, or mechanical manner
a program run not by the numbers but with concern for the participants
Examples of by the numbers in a Sentence
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Two days after the Phillips sale, Paul Boutros, the house’s deputy chairman and head of watches in the Americas, said even he was taken aback by the numbers.
—
Victoria Gomelsky,
Robb Report,
29 June 2026
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Victoria Gomelsky,
Robb Report,
29 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“By the numbers.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20the%20numbers. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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