GETTING BY Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

getting by

verb

present participle of get by

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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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 getting by These cities and towns promised better jobs, cheaper homes, less traffic and higher quality of life, outweighing Florida’s allure of tropical weather and ease of getting by on Spanish alone. — Elliot Spagat, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 These cities and towns promised better jobs, cheaper homes, less traffic and higher quality of life, outweighing Florida's allure of tropical weather and ease of getting by on Spanish alone. — CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026 The result, says Roya, is deepening apathy among her fellow citizens, whose preoccupation now is just getting by. — Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2026 That free ticket, obtained by getting by hitting two of six numbers on a previous drawing, is now worth $6 million. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026 That is not the performance of a team getting by on heart. — Sylvana Quader Sinha, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 Mexico passed its opening test with flying colors, getting by South Africa 2-0. — Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 18 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for getting by

Verb

With phones, keys, multi-tools, flashlights, water bottles and charging cables, the modern trouser and jacket pocket has a tough job coping.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026
The band has spent hours in interviews explaining their comeback story, finding Armstrong (and new drummer Colin Brittain), and coping with the loss of Bennington.

— Brian Welk, IndieWire, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of coping

Verb

Interestingly, a fleeting scene of Noah leaning on his teammates becomes a tragic mirror to Hal never having been able to do so (as a kid or as a Lantern) and John never getting along with his brothers.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
The success of Oasis Live ’25 — and the fact that the brothers are still getting along well enough to do press for their documentary together — has sparked rumors of a further Oasis tour, perhaps next year.

— Ellise Shafer, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of getting along

Verb

Damman noted that even five minutes of getting the heart rate up after a meal is enough to blunt the post-meal spike, which points to real potential for people managing insulin resistance or a family history of type 2 diabetes.

— Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2026
At that bar’s successor, Attaboy, Queen Mary managing partner Dan Smith sampled a take with Concord grapes.

— Amy Cavanaugh, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026