thereby

adverb

there·​by t͟her-ˈbī How to pronounce thereby (audio)
ˈt͟her-ˌbī
1
: by that : by that means
thereby lost her chance to win
2
: connected with or with reference to that
thereby hangs a tale …William Shakespeare

Examples of thereby in a Sentence

He signed the contract, thereby forfeiting his right to the property.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The intention was to create a more desirable working environment and thereby attract better employees by lowering worker fatigue and giving them more free time. Jeff Mayhugh, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026 The pep talk doesn't hit, and Eleven is forced to impale Vecna on a spike, thereby destroying the Mind Flayer as a result of their connection. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Jan. 2026 The donations were made on Giving Tuesday, which means most were matched, thereby doubling their amount and impact, according to the news release. News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025 The goal is to get every subsequent purchase at a lower price, thereby reducing your overall cost basis. Zev Fima, CNBC, 30 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for thereby

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thereby was before the 12th century

Cite this Entry

“Thereby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thereby. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

thereby

adverb
there·​by t͟ha(ə)r-ˈbī How to pronounce thereby (audio)
t͟he(ə)r-;
ˈt͟ha(ə)r-ˌbī
ˈt͟he(ə)r-
1
: by that : by that means
thereby lost her chance to win
2
: connected with or with reference to that
thereby hangs a tale

More from Merriam-Webster on thereby

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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