GETS BY Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

gets by

verb

present tense third-person singular of get by

as in copes

to meet one's day-to-day needs working at night paid my college tuition and enabled me to get by—but just barely

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 gets by Adaya Amaya, 47, ran a catering business from her home and now operates a food truck but barely gets by. — Elliot Spagat, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 But the retired mortician, who gets by on Social Security benefits with her husband, doesn't buy it anymore. — Israel Schuman, Des Moines Register, 9 Sep. 2026 Don Diamont gets by with a little help from his friends and former costars. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026 That’s around $5 billion, more than eight times the amount collected in fees, and the lead left gets by far the biggest portion. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 10 June 2026 Even a guy who normally gets by with just his wallet will appreciate this best-selling bag from Osprey. — Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 27 May 2026 Another entry in our recent deluge of ironic gorefests, Over Your Dead Body doesn’t really give us anything new, although for its first half at least, the picture gets by on some verve and a modicum of intelligence. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026 There was also the City Council’s jaw-dropping decision in November to raise the annual fees for the two subsidized valet parking spots every hotel gets by 789% — from $634 to $5,000. — U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026 For example, a saltwater pool can increase the number of daily saves a listing gets by 11%; the same thing goes for an outdoor shower. — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gets by

Verb

The story centers on the families left behind, tracing how a mother copes with her daughter’s absence.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026
Hollis buries herself in work in an attempt to escape her complicated grief, while aspiring filmmaker Caroline copes by making snarky remarks and bristling at her mom's efforts to connect.

— Clarissa Cruz, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026

Definition of copes

Verb

Her incompatibility is expertly and efficiently illustrated in an immediate fallout with Gordon’s brash but lovable brother, Heavy (Justin Rosniak), who Ash gets along with swimmingly.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
John teaches at a small, leafy college by day, while by night working on a book about rationalist philosopher Spinoza and dating his beautiful colleague Becca (Sofia Boutella), a professor of psychology who has a son with whom John gets along well.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of gets along

Verb

Notably, Laboriel, who also does background vocals, has performed on some of the world’s biggest stages, from Super Bowl halftime shows to concerts held in front of Queen Elizabeth.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2026
Defensiveness does the opposite, turning a limited problem into a visible and lasting one.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of does

Verb

Researchers solved this issue by creating a dual processing technique that smooths the material surface and manages how the crystals form.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
Fundo Setorial do Audiovisual (FSA) will provide the money for the $20 million incentive package as part of an agreement between RioFilm and the National Cinema Agency (Ancine), which manages FSA.

— Marcelo Cajueiro, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026