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 Heat’s new-look offense relies on players getting by their defender and into the paint without the help of a screen. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2025

Jacqueline Chapman is a retired school aide who relies on a $630 monthly Social Security check to get by. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2025

This welfare wasn’t enough to replace it, but just enough to get by. —Stephanie Land, Time, 30 Oct. 2025

But in this day and age, all parents have to work to get by. —Jessie Balmert, Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 Oct. 2025

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