BY AND BY Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

by-and-by 1 of 2

noun

ˌbī-ən-ˈbī

Definition of by-and-by

as in future

time that is to come we shall meet again in the by-and-by

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

by and by

2 of 2

adverb

as in shortly

at or within a short time we'll get under way by and by

Synonyms & Similar Words

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-and-by

Adverb

The character giving that agonizing scream on the dragon, by and by, is Lady Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia). — James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Dec. 2023 But nemesis haunts every heroic age and, by and by, this good court would succumb to the corrupting influence of lesser men. — Ian MacDougall, Harper's Magazine, 12 Sep. 2022 The previous GoT prequel project starring Naomi Watts, by and by, shot a pilot in Northern Ireland before HBO decided not to move forward with that one. — James Hibberd, EW.com, 14 Oct. 2020 Robert Frost would not gaze off into the snowy world, telling this tale with a sigh, by and by, not yet. — Mary O’Connell , Longreads, 18 Sep. 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for by-and-by

Noun

But now there’s money on the line, and Adam can imagine a future for himself across the country and a chance to start again — something Charles, tethered so much to this land, simply can’t do.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
Questions themselves can determine which possible futures become visible, comparable, and actionable.

— Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of future

Adverb

Samuel, or Samuil in Bulgarian, was a warrior emperor who battled the Byzantine Empire to expand his kingdom but was ultimately defeated and died shortly afterward in 1014.

— COSTAS KANTOURIS, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
He was taken to a hospital with serious facial injuries but died shortly afterward, according to TASS.

— Arina Porkhovnik, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of shortly

Adverb

The rare show of alignment among fierce rivals was soon countered by comments from Meta’s Zuckerberg and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, both of whom dismissed the slowdown idea.

— Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Now, the full-scale deployment of the ClarosTechUV PFAS destruction system is soon to take place at Daikin’s manufacturing facility in Decatur.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of soon

Noun

Established in 2023, the biennial prize is given in recognition of next-gen multidisciplinary artists working at the intersection of art, media, and technology to explore notions of futurity and transformation.

— News Desk, Artforum, 4 Nov. 2025
This reading list offers resources for engaging with Indigenous thought, resistance, and futurity.

— JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 11 Oct. 2025

Definition of futurity

Browse Nearby Words

by a long shot

by-and-by

by and by

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“By-and-by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/by-and-by. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of by-and-by

noun

adverb

Example Sentences

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Cite this Entry

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