bypass

noun

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by·pass | \ ˈbī-ˌpas

Definition of bypass

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a passage to one side especially : a deflected route usually around a town

2a : a channel carrying a fluid around a part and back to the main stream

b(1) : shunt sense 1b

(2) : shunt sense 1c also : a surgical procedure for the establishment of a shunt have a coronary bypass

bypass

verb

bypassed; bypassing; bypasses

Definition of bypass (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to avoid by means of a bypass bypass a congested area

b : to cause to follow a bypass

2a : to neglect or ignore usually intentionally

b : circumvent attempting to bypass the law

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about bypass

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Examples of bypass in a Sentence

Noun The bridge is being rebuilt so we'll have to take the bypass. Verb To bypass the city, take the highway that circles it. Is there a way to bypass the bridge construction? He bypassed the manager and talked directly to the owner. She managed to bypass the usual paperwork.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Taufique, who has undergone a kidney transplant and a heart bypass, did not return to the Hoover Crescent Islamic Center for community prayers from March 13, 2020 until March 26, 2021, an absence of more than a year. — al, "When does Ramadan start?," 12 Apr. 2021 Segal died in March at age 87 of complications from a bypass surgery. — Katie Campione, PEOPLE.com, "The Goldbergs Pays Tribute to the Late George Segal During His Final Episode: 'We Will Miss You'," 7 Apr. 2021 Actor and musician George Segal died on Tuesday due to complications from bypass surgery. — Ruth Kinane, EW.com, "George Segal, star of Just Shoot Me and The Goldbergs, dies at 87," 24 Mar. 2021 The cause was complications following bypass surgery, according to his wife, Sonia Segal, who announced his death. — BostonGlobe.com, "George Segal, durable veteran of drama and TV comedy, dies at 87," 24 Mar. 2021 The cause was complications of bypass surgery, according to his wife, Sonia Segal. — New York Times, "George Segal, Veteran of Drama and TV Comedy, Is Dead at 87," 23 Mar. 2021 The merger could allow trains traveling north and south to avoid having to interchange cars and potentially bypass Chicago, a busy and often congested hub in the U.S. freight system. — Jacquie Mcnish, WSJ, "Railroads Strike a $25 Billion Merger," 21 Mar. 2021 My father had a heart attack in his late 50s and, later, bypass surgery. — Washington Post, "Food was my life — until a heart attack at 41 almost killed me," 3 Mar. 2021 Described by some as dialysis for the lungs, ECMO works on the same principle as a heart-lung bypass machine, but patients can stay on ECMO for weeks. — Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, "She was dying of COVID-19. Her last hope would save her or kill her," 12 Mar. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Beginning April 17, travelers from Taiwan will also be eligible to bypass quarantine through testing. — CNN, "Travel to Hawaii during Covid-19: What you need to know before you go," 14 Apr. 2021 The emergency proclamation also revealed plans to allow vaccinated travelers to bypass mandatory quarantine upon arriving to the state. — From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, "Ramadan rules, Flags of Hope, zoo overnights: News from around our 50 states," 12 Apr. 2021 Biden Is Considering Executive Action to Enact Student Loan Forgiveness Student loan borrower advocates and progressives continue to press Biden to bypass Congress altogether and enact widespread student loan forgiveness through executive action. — Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, "Biden Excludes Student Loan Forgiveness From Budget Proposal, But Calls For More Funding For Higher Ed: Key Details," 9 Apr. 2021 Increasingly, trade and investment treaties privilege investors over governments and enable international corporations to bypass scientific evidence and challenge public health policies enacted through national democratic processes. — Nicholas Freudenberg, STAT, "Corporate versus public control of science and technology: Forging a framework for the 21st Century," 3 Apr. 2021 Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is eyeing an in-the-weeds rule that could give him extra opportunities to bypass the Senate’s filibuster roadblock and pass sweeping legislation with a simple majority. — Emily Brooks, Washington Examiner, "Schumer eyes opportunity to get extra chance at bypassing filibuster," 29 Mar. 2021 President Trump was incredibly effective at using Twitter to bypass the media and speak directly to his supporters. — Los Angeles Times, "Essential Politics: Twitter is 15. How 140 characters unleashed a ‘firehose’ we can’t turn off," 24 Mar. 2021 How else to understand the growing resistance to Substack — an online service that permits writers to bypass the traditional media and distribute newsletters and articles directly to subscribers — than as white-hot antipathy toward an upstart rival? — Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, "The Hand-Wringing Media Freak-Out over Substack," 19 Mar. 2021 A year ago, after the NCAA Tournament was canceled because of the pandemic, Carter opted to bypass her senior season and declare for the WNBA draft. — Brent Zwerneman, San Antonio Express-News, "Texas A&M women plan to use NCAA seed as motivation," 15 Mar. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bypass.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

16 Apr 2021

Cite this Entry

“Bypass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bypass. Accessed 22 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for bypass

bypass

noun

English Language Learners Definition of bypass

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a road that goes around a blocked or very crowded area

medical : a procedure done to allow blood to flow past a blocked blood vessel to reach the heart

bypass

verb

English Language Learners Definition of bypass (Entry 2 of 2)

: to go around or avoid (a place or area)

: to avoid or ignore (someone or something) especially to get something done quicker

See the full definition for bypass in the English Language Learners Dictionary

bypass

noun

by·pass | \ ˈbī-ˌpas

Kids Definition of bypass

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a road serving as a substitute route around a blocked or crowded area

bypass

verb

bypassed; bypassing

Kids Definition of bypass (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to make a detour around

2 : avoid sense 1, forgo … would probably be permitted to bypass most of the training.— Lois Lowry, The Giver

bypass

noun

by·pass | \ ˈbī-ˌpas

Medical Definition of bypass

: a surgically established shunt cardiopulmonary bypass of blood from the right atrium to the aorta also : a surgical procedure for the establishment of a shunt

Note: When a bypass is performed on more than one coronary artery or branch, the number of times (double, triple, etc.) is often specified.

I was immediately scheduled for a triple bypass, but they decided to try an angioplasty. — Terry Todd, Sports Illustrated, 1 Aug. 1983 — see coronary artery bypass, gastric bypass, jejunoileal bypass

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