as in coping
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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Recent Examples of getting by
Two lanes of traffic are now getting by after the multi-vehicle crash.
—
Laura Fay, CBS News, 17 June 2026
Even with two incomes, the family is just getting by.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 16 June 2026
Federal employees are guaranteed to receive back pay once the shutdown ends, according to a 2019 law, but getting by until then can be hard.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
Millman, his wife and their teenage daughter are barely getting by on his two part-time jobs, one bagging groceries, the other helping homebound seniors.
—Noam N. Levey, Hartford Courant, 20 Apr. 2026
Their relationship enters a dramatic new phase when the latter — also single, barely getting by with ambitions to become a writer — gets pregnant after sleeping with her married professor and decides to keep the baby.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2026
As Americans are barely getting by because of inflation, tariffs, and a cost-of-living crisis, saving for retirement can feel like the priority lowest on the totem pole.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
She’s been there since January, mostly getting by on her own.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
For those who worked part-time while raising children, or who’ve spent decades just getting by with little chance to save for retirement, old age can hit hard.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
Laura Fay, CBS News, 17 June 2026
Even with two incomes, the family is just getting by.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 16 June 2026
Federal employees are guaranteed to receive back pay once the shutdown ends, according to a 2019 law, but getting by until then can be hard.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
Millman, his wife and their teenage daughter are barely getting by on his two part-time jobs, one bagging groceries, the other helping homebound seniors.
—Noam N. Levey, Hartford Courant, 20 Apr. 2026
Their relationship enters a dramatic new phase when the latter — also single, barely getting by with ambitions to become a writer — gets pregnant after sleeping with her married professor and decides to keep the baby.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2026
As Americans are barely getting by because of inflation, tariffs, and a cost-of-living crisis, saving for retirement can feel like the priority lowest on the totem pole.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
She’s been there since January, mostly getting by on her own.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
For those who worked part-time while raising children, or who’ve spent decades just getting by with little chance to save for retirement, old age can hit hard.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for getting by
Verb
-
The Northwestern Mutual survey comes at a moment when Americans are coping with years of cumulative inflation.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
-
His coping mechanism was to convert that fear into fuel.—
Joshua Encinias,
IndieWire,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
There are few things in this world more sanctimonious and hypocritical than left-wing sportswriters getting on their faux moral high horse.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
-
With season two taking its time getting on the air, the field of potential Best Comedy nominees this year was looking rather stale — until Widow’s Bay premiered.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
The former couple is reportedly not getting along at the moment, especially after Hewitt accused Davidson of being a deadbeat dad to their daughter, Scottie Rose.—
Allison DeGrushe,
StyleCaster,
19 May 2026
-
Nicholas Elliott Sometimes, the best way to demonstrate your interpreter bona fides is by getting along with a filmmaker who’s notorious for being difficult.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
La Roja needs quicker movement of the ball and its players, more adaptation to what the opponent is doing (Saudi Arabia is not going to play free and open after seeing what worked) and to be more ruthless.—
Patrick Sung Cuadrado,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
-
There is a psychological drive to try to get a second chance at doing something that didn't turn out well the first time.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
The two had an on-and-off relationship and were making out at the end of season nine.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
-
The finale concluded on an uncomfortable cliffhanger between Benny and Carmen, as the former walked in on the latter making out with his crush Miles (Rish Shah), leading to an unexpected confrontation in which Benny is accidentally outed to his sister.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Cruise lines are constantly managing a shifting inventory of cabin categories right up until embarkation day.—
Jacqueline Dole,
Southern Living,
21 June 2026
-
The lack of Navy interest in managing NAVFAC leads, at best, to a leisurely approach to getting anything done.—
Craig Hooper,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Getting by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/getting%20by. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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