goby

1 of 2

noun

go·​by ˈgō-bē 

plural gobies also goby

: any of numerous spiny-finned fishes (family Gobiidae) that usually have the pelvic fins united to form a ventral sucking disk

Illustration of goby

go by

2 of 2

verb

went by; gone by; going by; goes by

intransitive verb

: pass sense 3b

as time goes by

Examples of goby in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The discovery comes just weeks after another new goby species was identified nearby in a June 24 study, McClatchy News reported. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 11 July 2024

This length was particularly small for earthworm gobies, again suggesting the fish belongs to a previously unidentified species. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 11 July 2024

Verb

As the years go by, some hard lessons are learned but others not so much. —Addie Morfoot, Variety, 19 Aug. 2024

Stone and Jackson, who goes by E.J., have remained close. —Ben McGrath, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin gobius gudgeon, from Greek kōbios

First Known Use

Noun

1769, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1508, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

goby

noun

go·​by ˈgō-bē 

plural gobies also goby

: any of numerous spiny-finned fishes that often have the pelvic fins united to form a sucking disk