by the by

phrase

variants or by the bye
Definition of by the bynext
as in by the way
by way of interjection or digression He mentioned by the by that he had never been to Paris.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for by the by
by the way
Phrase
  • The structure leans heavily on concrete, steel and glass, but it’s warmed by wood, basalt and marble finishes and by the way the house frames the surrounding terrain.
    David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026
  • And by the way, no one can learn the scoring thing and all the rules in an hour.
    Sean Gregory, Time, 23 July 2026
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.

Cite this Entry

“By the by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/by%20the%20by. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!