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

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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 Josh, who wants to be an investigative journalist, is an idealist in a PBS T-shirt (and with a PBS tote bag) who gets by on family money and is incapable of taking care of himself in any practical way. —

Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 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, 28 Apr. 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 The Bears could have a chance to avenge one of their losses – to Lakeview – in the second round on Monday if Lakeview gets by Kaynor Tech in the first round. —

Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2026 Once Booker gets by him, Alex’s job is just to get the ball at its apex. —

Josh Robbins, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026 There's not a frame that gets by him. —

Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gets by

Verb

Meanwhile, Annie as played by Tess Barthélémy copes in two ways with being surrounded by caricaturish oppressors.

— Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
Another interesting storyline will be how El Hadji Malick Diouf copes with Saka’s attacking threat down the Arsenal right.

— Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 9 May 2026