get by
verb
got by; got by or gotten by; getting by; gets by
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
Not fast enough and doesn’t have enough wiggle to be able to really get by you at that level.
—
Cj Moore, New York Times, 20 June 2025
This would be somewhat of a raw reach, a player who could get by early with his attacking and defensive guile.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 19 June 2025
The organization said about 60% of its tenants live on incomes of less than $1,350 a month, with about 20% getting by on less than $800 a month.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2025
Rich soil and weekly watering results in more vigorous plants, but zinnias will get by pretty well during a drought.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for get by
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Cj Moore, New York Times, 20 June 2025
This would be somewhat of a raw reach, a player who could get by early with his attacking and defensive guile.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 19 June 2025
The organization said about 60% of its tenants live on incomes of less than $1,350 a month, with about 20% getting by on less than $800 a month.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2025
Rich soil and weekly watering results in more vigorous plants, but zinnias will get by pretty well during a drought.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for get by
Cite this Entry
“Get by.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get%20by. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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