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
Seven were sidelined by the final buzzer. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026 Federal officials have previously cited a video by a right-wing influencer that claimed fraud by Minneapolis day care centers operated by people with Somali backgrounds. Arkansas Online, 24 Jan. 2026
Adverb
According to prosecutors, Vance argued with some attendees of the annual Carnival in Franklin Park and then later drove by and opened fire on the crowd, striking Russell in the torso. Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026 There are exceptions — in Denver, that might come in the form of a giant blue bear or an angry blue horse — but for the most part, public art gets less interesting over time as everyday citizens, rushing to work or jogging by for the hundredth time, simply lose interest. Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 12 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for by
Recent Examples of Synonyms for by
Preposition
  • NurPhoto via Getty Images FC Barcelona has made a decision on Gavi’s return from injury amid his teammate and close friend Pedri being ruled out for a month according to SPORT, which cited anonymous sources.
    Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Trump repeatedly pushed the deadline back via executive action.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 23 Jan. 2026
Preposition
  • Washington — Federal Reserve officials convene this week at a pivotal moment in the US central bank’s 112-year history, with a series of historic events putting a spotlight on their ability to set interest rates without political interference.
    Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 28 Jan. 2026
  • True autonomy demands a fundamentally different approach — a unified system that perceives, decides, and acts with the entire body at once.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
Preposition
  • In addition to where in the stadium tickets can purchased, Razorback Foundation donor levels and priority points also dictate how parking passes around the stadium are distributed and how many tickets are available for purchase in certain sections.
    Matt Jones, Arkansas Online, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Troy’s older brother Carl just couldn’t get his head around it.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Preposition
  • The Canes have another edge prospect in Akheem Mesidor, who led the ACC with 12 1/2 sacks and added 17 1/2 tackles for loss during Miami’s run to the national championship game.
    Joseph Person, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
  • The drones targeted the power grid, which Russia has repeatedly bombarded during the coldest winter in years, and also hit five apartment blocks, officials said.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Jan. 2026
Adverb
  • Jane Ciabattari Talks to the Author of Vigil Those who are regular readers of George Saunders’ Story Club Substack were in for a treat on the tenth of December 2025 (a date chosen in honor of his story collection, a National Book Award finalist and Story Prize winner).
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
  • To a certain extent, knowing the ultimate outcome in advance — as in, looking into the case online before watching the documentary — would do nothing to diminish the power of a film that operates almost entirely on emotional logic, or the lack thereof.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
Preposition
  • Business logic – founders should understand how money flows through the business.
    Alison Coleman, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • And perhaps the most telling aspect of an SGG narrative is audience complicity, garnered through narrative intimacy.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
Preposition
  • The Chicago Police Department's marine unit recovered the body underwater near the 3100 block of South Lake Shore Drive on Chicago's South Side, ABC 7 Chicago reports.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
  • In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Preposition
  • After mass protests in Iran erupted in December and continued to escalate into the new year, the government shut down internet access throughout the country.
    Ramy Inocencio, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
  • With several teams in qualification places on goal difference alone as things stand, prepare for the league table to be changing as frequently as an airport departures board throughout the 90 minutes.
    Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026

Cite this Entry

“By.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/by. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.

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