by 1 of 2

Definition of bynext
1
2
as in with
using the means or agency of try to convince them by reason alone, if possible

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
as in during
in the course of she attends college by day and works at the club by night

Synonyms & Similar Words

by

2 of 2

adverb

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of by
Preposition
This article was generated by the Bay Area Home Report Bot, software that analyzes home sales or other data and creates an article based on a template created by humans. Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 30 May 2026 The rebellion reached its height in the early 2000s, a bloody rejoinder to the booming economy fueled by the rise of outsourcing in IT and software, and optimism about India’s future. Dhruv Tikekar, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
Adverb
Keaschall watched both four-seamers fly by for strikes. Chandler Rome, New York Times, 19 May 2026 Adding bright, vibrant hues—like red, pink, yellow, and orange—to your landscape can entice local hummingbirds to hover by for a closer look. Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for by
Recent Examples of Synonyms for by
Preposition
  • It’s also sold directly to consumers, via the company website or at Walmart, in four different kits tailored for first-time exams, menopause and different body types.
    Wendy Naugle, USA Today, 5 June 2026
  • The front camera can film each swing and play it back on a screen that offers frame-by-frame analysis of technique, with footage sharable to coaches via an accompanying app.
    Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 5 June 2026
Preposition
  • Now, Schwartz is opening up about the split with the Browns.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
  • Ginsberg first read the titular entry in Howl and Other Poems at San Francisco’s Six Gallery in 1955, and the work anthologized a year later by fellow poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti as the fourth entry in the City Lights Bookstore imprint with its distinctive slender binding and black-and-white cover.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Preposition
  • The airspace around St Petersburg international airport was restricted on Wednesday morning, leading to delays of around two dozen flights, the airport said in a statement.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
  • Meals are served around the pool or at small tables in the open-air dining room (no need to share tables with fellow safari-goers).
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
Preposition
  • Mark my words, Rosewood will make travelers start regarding Phuket as a tasteful destination, to tack on as the beach break during trips to Bangkok or Singapore.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
  • Of Europe's top leagues, only Italy's Serie A is as competitive as the Premier League, with four clubs — Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Napoli — winning the title during the last seven years.
    Ian King, CNBC, 3 June 2026
Adverb
  • Notably, progressive Katie Porter and moderate San José Mayor Matt Mahan stuck in until the bitter end.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
  • The elevator door opened, and Andrew Tate walked in.
    Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Preposition
  • From the train windows, expect to spot the aquamarine waves of Ligurian Sea crashing against the stony coast, candy-colored houses huddled together on the hillsides, tiny wooden boats gliding through village harbors, and flecks of golden-sand beaches.
    Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 June 2026
  • The woman’s daughter showed investigators video footage showing Robinson rifling through the woman’s drawers, selecting items and hiding them on her body.
    Kairi Lowery, Miami Herald, 5 June 2026
Preposition
  • Fortunately for the Cubs’ shortstop, Popovich’s aim was as wild as her mane of chestnut hair; one bullet struck his right hand, another struck his left, and a third shot nicked him on the right side, but nowhere near a vital organ.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
  • In Manatí, near a chain of Taíno caves and the Tortuguero Nature Reserve (the island’s only natural lagoon), Efrén David Robles is expanding the idea of what Puerto Rico offers beyond San Juan’s beaches and El Yunque National Forest.
    Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
Preposition
  • For a couple of decades now, rates of anxiety, depression, suicide and self-harm have been rising sharply in countries throughout the West—and in people of all classes, races and educational levels.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
  • Perhaps the hotel’s philosophy is best seen by the seashells placed under glass cloches throughout the hotel, showcasing the reverence for nature here.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026

Cite this Entry

“By.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/by. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.

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