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
Josh, who wants to be an investigative journalist, is an idealist in a PBS T-shirt (and with a PBS tote bag) who gets by on family money and is incapable of taking care of himself in any practical way.
—
Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Aric Dunmore, 33, has spent much of his life homeless, working odd jobs to get by.
—Kamal Morgan
may 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026
Amid the savings crunch, many Americans are relying on credit to get by.
—Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 28 May 2026
The Brookings affordability report found nearly 38 million households would be able to get by if workers' wages rose by $10 per hour.
—Stephan Bisaha, NPR, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for get by
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Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Aric Dunmore, 33, has spent much of his life homeless, working odd jobs to get by.
—Kamal Morgan
may 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026
Amid the savings crunch, many Americans are relying on credit to get by.
—Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 28 May 2026
The Brookings affordability report found nearly 38 million households would be able to get by if workers' wages rose by $10 per hour.
—Stephan Bisaha, NPR, 28 May 2026
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 6 Jun. 2026.
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