get by

verb

got by; got by or gotten by; getting by; gets by
Synonyms of get bynext

intransitive verb

1
: to succeed with the least possible effort or accomplishment
2
: to make ends meet : survive
3
: to proceed without being discovered, criticized, or punished

Examples of get by in a Sentence

working at night paid my college tuition and enabled me to get by—but just barely
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Most guys can get by without an aftershave, no shortage of which are fragrance conduits masquerading as moisturizers. Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2026 Profits from touring and record and merch sales were enough to get by on, and over six years, the Weakerthans became Canadian indie-rock darlings. Hazlitt, 11 Mar. 2026 Most families get by without a car, with nearly 75% of residents living on Tremont Ave. Gustavo Rivera, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026 So they can be forgiven for trying to get by without explosive weapons. Troy Renck, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for get by

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of get by was in 1841

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Get by.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get%20by. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

get by

verb
1
: to make ends meet : manage
2
: to succeed with the least possible effort or accomplishment

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