1
2
as in with
using the means or agency of
try to convince them by reason alone, if possible
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in in
at, within, or to a short distance or time
the library is close by
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of by
Safiyah Riddle, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
He was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the 1964 NHL Amateur Draft, but was traded to the Canadiens days later.
—Jesse Granger, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Eric Lach, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Pedro Neto has been excellent in recent months, but will be pushed hard by Estevao if pre-season is anything to go by.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for by
Preposition
Lawmakers in many states have changed the rules in recent decades to protect winners from being targeted by criminals and unscrupulous people asking for money.
—Safiyah Riddle, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
He was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the 1964 NHL Amateur Draft, but was traded to the Canadiens days later.
—Jesse Granger, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Adverb
In his telling, after years of flying by during annual migrations, these birds have begun to gaze at this section of the outer boroughs with the cool eyes of upwardly mobile young professionals.
—Eric Lach, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Pedro Neto has been excellent in recent months, but will be pushed hard by Estevao if pre-season is anything to go by.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for by
Recent Examples of Synonyms for by
Preposition
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Variety via Getty Images Rounding out the top winners was the HBO documentary Pee-wee as Himself, which earned three awards.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Jesus answers the questions in Portuguese, via a translator, but his English is strong enough to understand what is being asked and to hold a conversation.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Preposition
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Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Mercenaries are defined as soldiers who are contracted by third parties unaffiliated with a nation’s armed forces and motivated primarily by private gain.—
Rebecca Johns,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
Preposition
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Overmont Oversized Double Camping Chair This Overmont Double Chair is built for snuggling up around the campfire, but it can be used to spread out while solo.—
Francesca Krempa,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Sep. 2025
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The ensemble featured a visible black underwire and corset boning at the bust and torso, while the sheer black fabric created an illusion of draping around her bust and the rest of her body.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Preposition
-
The vigil was hosted at the Nepali Cultural and Spiritual Center, at 1212 Royal Parkway in Euless, on Monday night to honor the lives lost during an anti-corruption protest in Nepal.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Sep. 2025
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On June 25, 2025, Rick Nolthenius, an astronomer at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California, and his former student, amateur astronomer Kirk Bender, set out to observe the Quaoar system during an occultation.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
An amendment to a special tax district will allow Olympia Fields to become more social — as in, a place for families to play, not just live and shop, near the historic ski hill.—
Jim Riccioli,
jsonline.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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Google shares pop Alphabet shares popped 7% in after hours trading on the news.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Preposition
-
Flip patties and cook 1 minute; carefully place 2 tablespoons of the cheese on each patty, cover with a transparent lid and cook until cheese is melted and patties are cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes more.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025
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His first and only target came mid-way through the second quarter – taking a hit in the ribs and exiting the game.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
Preposition
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Waterspouts tend to form when the air is cool and moist, and the water is near its warmest.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Phillips died in a police shootout on Monday, after officers were alerted to a possible break-in at a farm goods store in Poipoi in the western Waikato district, near to where he was believed to have been hiding out with his kids, CNN, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) and ABC News Australia reported.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Preposition
-
Danielson said Boomer won the competition at kicker through his fall camp performance, but the coaching staff will continue to evaluate the two players throughout the coming bye week.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Aerial resources assisted these efforts throughout the day as visibility allowed.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“By.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/by. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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