Synonyms of gets by

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

• copes
• gets on
• gets along
• does
• manages
• survives
• makes shift
• makes do
• makes ends meet
• makes out
• fares
• shifts
• affords
• carries on
• fends for oneself
• ekes out
• lasts
• scrapes (by or through)
• scrounges
• contrives
• scrapes (out)
• squeezes
• wrests
• wrings
• swings

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• falls short
• fails
• collapses
• declines
• gives up
• wanes
• slumps
• fizzles
• flounders
• peters (out)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of gets by

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

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, 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

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