ˈbaɪ 
bə
1
: close to or next to (something or someone) : near
She was standing by [=beside] the window.
His wife was sitting by him.
They have a house by the lake.
2
a
: up to and beyond (something or someone) : past
The bus went right by him without stopping.
b
: at or to (someone's home)
Some friends stopped/came by our house for a chat.
Why don't you come by my place later?
3
a
—used following a passive verb to indicate the person or thing that does something
The decision was made by the company president. [=the company president made the decision]
Coal has been replaced by oil. [=oil has replaced coal]
He was killed by a falling rock. [=a falling rock killed him]
I was greatly surprised by the result. [=the result surprised me greatly]
b
—used to indicate the thing that is used to do something
He opened the door by (using) force. [=he used force to open the door]
She succeeded by pure determination.
c
—used to indicate an action that is done for a particular purpose
You can reset the machine by pressing this button. [=you can press this button to reset the machine]
He began his speech by thanking the President and ended it by telling a joke.
4
—used to indicate the person who wrote or created something
a play (written) by William Shakespeare
This is a portrait of Gaugin (that was painted) by Van Gogh.
5
a
—used to indicate the method used to go somewhere, send something, etc.
Some people came by [=via] train while others came by car.
He returned by [=on, via] the last train.
They sent him a message by [=via] e-mail.
We drove here by the back roads.
b
—used to indicate the method used to enter or leave a place
We entered by [=through, via] the front door.
6
a
—used to indicate the name that is used for someone or something
The American writer Samuel L. Clemens was known by the name "Mark Twain."
Her full name is Elizabeth but she goes by (the nickname) "Lizzie."
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is usually referred to by its initials "FBI."
b
—used to indicate how someone is spoken to, identified, etc.
He called her by name. [=he used her name when he spoke to her]
I know her by sight but not by name. [=I know what she looks like but I don't know her name]
c
—used to introduce the name of someone or something important as proof that you are speaking the truth
I swear by [=in the name of] all that's sacred that everything I've said is true.
—often used in phrases like by God to add emphasisHe always said he'd retire to Hawaii, and by God, he did it!
d
: when using (a specified word or phrase)
What do you mean by "acceptable levels?" [=what levels do you consider acceptable?]
She called my theory "interesting," but I don't know what she meant by that. [=I don't know whether she was being sincere, polite, etc.]
It's hard to know what the author intended by this phrase.
7
—used to indicate the part of something or of a person's body that is held, grasped, etc.
He grasped the shovel by the/its handle. [=he grasped the handle of the shovel]
She grabbed him by the arm. [=she grabbed his arm]
He held/took his daughter by the/her hand. [=he held/took his daughter's hand]
8
a
: during the time of (day or night)
New York by night [=at night, during the night] is very different from New York by day. [=during the day]
b
—used to indicate the kind of light that occurs or is used when something is being looked at, read, etc.
The landscape looked very different when we saw it by daylight than it had by moonlight.
She was trying to read by the light of a single candle.
9
a
: not later than (a specified time) : at, in, on, or before (a specified time)
We need to leave by noon at the latest.
They should be here by tomorrow.
I don't know where she is. She should have been back by now.
By this time next year she hopes to have a new job.
She's planning to get married next year, by which time she hopes to have a new job.
b
: during the time until (a specified time)
By 2000 the U.S. had been an independent country for more than 200 years.
10
a
: in a way that agrees with or follows (something, such as a rule)
They didn't play by the rules.
b
: in a way that is based on (something)
You shouldn't judge other people by (their) appearances.
c
: according to (something)
By my watch it's nearly noon. [=my watch says that it's nearly noon]
11
a
—used to indicate units of measurement or quantity
The eggs are sold by the dozen.
She gets paid by the hour.
They have been making progress by small degrees.
b
—used to indicate the number that multiplies or divides another number
multiply 8 by 12
divide 10 by 4
c
—used to indicate the numbers of a measurement
The room measures 15 feet by 20 feet.
12
—used to indicate an amount, length, etc.
The horse won the race by a nose.
She's taller than I am by several inches. [=she's several inches taller than I am]
The price has been increased by five dollars.
This one is better by far than that one. [=this one is much better than that one]
13
—used to indicate someone's job, origin, character, etc.
She's a lawyer by profession.
He's French by birth, although he has lived in America for many years.
I'm an optimist by nature. [=it is my nature to be optimistic]
14
a
—used in phrases to describe the speed at which something happens or changes
The work is getting done bit by bit. [=the work is getting done gradually in small amounts]
He's getting better little by little.
His health is growing worse day by day. = His health is growing worse by the day. [=his health is growing worse every day]
The situation is getting more dangerous by the second/minute/hour.
b
—used in phrases to describe how a series of people or things proceed or are dealt with
They entered the room two by two. [=two at a time] [=two of them entered the room, then two more entered the room, etc.]
I solved the problems one by one. [=I solved the first problem, then the second one, etc.]
15
informal
: in the opinion of (someone)
Whatever you want to do is fine/okay by me. [=I am willing to agree to whatever you want to do]
16
somewhat formal
a
: on behalf of (someone)
He always did right by his children. [=he always did the right things to help his children]
b
—used to indicate the husband or wife who is the parent of someone's child
He had two daughters by his first wife and a son by his second wife. [=his first wife was the mother of his two daughters and his second wife was the mother of his son]
She has two children by her first husband.
1
: past entry 4
The bus went right by without stopping.
We stood and applauded as the parade went/passed by.
The last few years have gone by [=have passed] so quickly.
2
—used with put to describe something that is being kept or saved for a future use
You should be putting some money by [=aside] for your old age. [=you should be saving some money for your old age]
3
: at or to someone's home
Some friends stopped/came by for a chat. [=some friends came by our house for a chat]
Why don't you come by later?
4
: close or near
He did it when nobody was by. [=(more commonly) around]
She lives close by. [=nearby]
Cite this Entry
“By.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/by. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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