ˈbī 
before consonants also bə
1
: in proximity to : near
standing by the window
2
a
: into the vicinity of and beyond : past
went right by him
b
: through or through the medium (see medium entry 1 sense 2) of : via
enter by the door
c
: in the direction of : toward
sailed north by east
3
a
: during the course of
studied by night
b
: not later than
be there by 2 p.m.
4
a
: through the agency (see agency sense 3) or instrumentality of
a poem written by Keats
death by firing squad
taken by force
happened by luck
b
: born or begot of
had two sons by his first wife
one child by her second husband
c
: sired or borne by
having foals by champion race horses
5
: with the witness or sanction (see sanction entry 1 sense 4c) of
swear by all that is holy
6
a
: in conformity with
acted by the rules
b
: according to
called her by name
sold by the pound
7
—used as a function word in multiplication, in division, and in measurements
divide a by b
multiply 10 by 4
a room 15 feet by 20 feet
8
a
: with respect to
a lawyer by profession
b
: on behalf of
did right by his children
9
a
: in or to the amount or extent of
win by a nose
b
chiefly Scotland
: in comparison with : beside
10
—used as a function word to indicate successive units or increments
little by little
walk two by two
11
: in the opinion of : from the point of view of
OK by me
see also:
variants
or bye
1
: being off the main route : side
a by passage
2
: incidental
by effects
variants
or bye
—used to express farewell —often used with following now
plural byes
ˈbīz
: the position of a participant in a tournament who advances to the next round without playing
drew a first-round bye
—used as a shortened form of goodbye to express farewell
When he finally spoke, though, and said, "Bye, I'll call you," instead of disappointment she had felt an enormous rush of relief—a feeling, she thinks now, of things falling back into place.—
Ann Packer
Ann PackerThe stag lowered his head and raised it again. He blew out a frosty puff of air, then leaped away, vanishing into the mist. "Bye," Annie said wistfully.—Mary Pope Osborne
Mary Pope Osborne"Bye, Mom! Bye, Auggie!" I kissed them both quickly and headed toward the door.—R. J. Palacio
R. J. PalacioExamples of by in a Sentence
Preposition
His wife was sitting by him.
They have a house by the lake.
The bus went right by him without stopping.
Some friends stopped by our house for a chat.
Why don't you come by my place later?
Adverb
The bus went right by without stopping.
We stood and applauded as the parade went by.
Why don't you come by later?
Noun (2)
She got a bye into the second round of the tennis tournament.
Recent Examples on the Web
CBS News, 12 June 2026
Obviously, that was affected by Thursday’s weather.
—Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Traffic rushes by on the surrounding streets, but within the 16-acre neighborhood of Culdesac, cars are conspicuously absent.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 12 June 2026
Photovogue, Vogue, 11 June 2026
This contrasts with the Joe Marty’s replica sign, which so closely resembles the original that passers-by might not know a replacement had been installed.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2026
Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
Even if Toronto can’t compete for the AL East and a bye, this version of the team is built well for a Wild Card Series.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Dan Shanoff, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Travis Kelce will turn 37 by the time the team hits its early season bye.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for by
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Preposition
Philadelphia declared a heat health emergency for Thursday and Friday, activating cooling centers, home visits by field teams, outreach to people experiencing homelessness and other services.
—CBS News, 12 June 2026
Obviously, that was affected by Thursday’s weather.
—Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
Adverb
Nearby, a limpkin waded in the creek to forage, and a great blue heron flew by.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Traffic rushes by on the surrounding streets, but within the 16-acre neighborhood of Culdesac, cars are conspicuously absent.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 12 June 2026
Noun
In the headphones of random passers-by.
—Photovogue, Vogue, 11 June 2026
This contrasts with the Joe Marty’s replica sign, which so closely resembles the original that passers-by might not know a replacement had been installed.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2026
Noun
Henderson’s qualifying score earned him a couple byes in the tournament’s knockout stage, according to the Times.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
Even if Toronto can’t compete for the AL East and a bye, this version of the team is built well for a Wild Card Series.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Interjection
Wilson has worked with CBS on a few occasions over the years, including during a Giants bye week last season.
—Dan Shanoff, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Travis Kelce will turn 37 by the time the team hits its early season bye.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for by
Cite this Entry
“By.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
by
1 of 3 preposition
(ˈ)bī
especially before consonants bə
1
: close to : near
by the sea
2
a
: so as to go along or through
by a different route
enter by the door
b
: past entry 2 sense 2
went right by them
4
: through the means or agency of
by force
5
: according to sense 1
by the rules
called by a different name
6
: with respect to
a doctor by profession
7
: to or in the amount or length of
win by a nose
sold by the pound
8
: in a series of
walk two by two
9
—used as a function word in multiplication and division and in measurements
divide 6 by 2
a room 15 feet by 20 feet
10
: in the opinion of
it's fine by me
by
2 of 3 adverb1
a
: close at hand : near
standing by
b
: at or to another's home
stop by for a chat
2
: past entry 4
cars went by
3
: aside entry 1 sense 2
putting some money by
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
