thereby

adverb

there·​by t͟her-ˈbī 

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

Electrons passing through the two paths pass through the conduction states and through slightly different cross-sectional areas of the nanowire, causing their oscillations at different periods, thereby producing the beating pattern. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026

Ibe, 30, appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Friday to be sentenced for assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm, and he was fined and sentenced to community service, according to BBC News. — Ali Rampling, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

China also hopes to encourage more citizens to exercise, thereby making an aging populace more active and reducing strain on the health system. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026

The biggest problem was that the retailer would immediately burn through inventory, thereby leaving little for the rest of the season. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing thereby

• thereby hangs a tale

Rhymes for thereby

• abscissae
• adonai
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi

Kids Definition

thereby

adverb

there·​by t͟ha(ə)r-ˈbī 

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