get by

verb

got by; got by or gotten by; getting by; gets by

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

Synonyms of get by

• cope
• do
• get on
• get along
• manage

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

The Chef follows the high-pressure environment of a top restaurant kitchen and the ongoing relationship between hedonistic single chef Dori and his employee Nimrod, a family man trying to get by. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2026

Delivery workers and cab and ride hailing drivers work long hours just to get by, while corporate platforms skim profits from every ride. —Phara Souffrant Forrest, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026

Feels like offensive line, probably get by with Steen and combo of lane/big Fred, but a big body first-rounder like Proctor from Alabama might be the move? —Zach Berman, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026

As cold weather continues to slam the South, the stories of how people and animals are getting by continue to filter in. —Dylan Lovan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for get by

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids Definition

get by

verb

1

: to make ends meet : manage

2

: to succeed with the least possible effort or accomplishment