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

Both severe flooding and power outages plagued Hoboken late into the evening as drivers struggled to get by along Willow Street. — Matthew Villafane, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026

That free ticket, obtained by getting by hitting two of six numbers on a previous drawing, is now worth $6 million. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026

Over in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood at Fresh Market Place, Drossos tries to keep the prices as low as possible so customers who’ve lost SNAP can get by. — Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026

The show focuses on the Evans family, a poor Black family living in a high-rise building in Chicago, and the episodes showcase their efforts to get by and improve their lives. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Aug. 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