goby

1 of 2

noun

go·​by ˈgō-bē 

plural gobies also goby

: any of numerous spiny-finned fishes (family Gobiidae) that usually have the pelvic fins united to form a ventral sucking disk

Illustration of goby

go by

2 of 2

verb

went by; gone by; going by; goes by

intransitive verb

: pass sense 3b

as time goes by

Examples of goby in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Topanga gobies comprise the biggest, most stable population in the Santa Monica Bay area, according to Dagit. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2025

Sorokin: The two fish that got the most attention are the steelhead trout and the tidewater gobies. —Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025

Verb

The band's members go by the stage names Bobby Vylan and Bobbie Vylan. —Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025

This year, coming in an election year as the mayor seeks a second term, went by more smoothly. —Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin gobius gudgeon, from Greek kōbios

First Known Use

Noun

1769, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1508, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

goby

noun

go·​by ˈgō-bē 

plural gobies also goby

: any of numerous spiny-finned fishes that often have the pelvic fins united to form a sucking disk