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
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Recent Examples of getting by
That is not the performance of a team getting by on heart.
—
Sylvana Quader Sinha,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
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
Sylvana Quader Sinha,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for getting by
Verb
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Here are some tips from the Plant Clinic for coping with Japanese beetles and grubs.
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Celebrating her 23rd birthday, Kara is on a cosmic bar crawl and coping with a tragic childhood in adult drinks.
Verb
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Kinsler played the most of the four, getting on the field for 56 snaps last season.
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Meanwhile, Belgium has yet to score in two matches at this World Cup, getting on the scoreboard only through an own goal in its opening draw with Egypt.
Verb
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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.
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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.
Verb
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Called up Thursday after signing as a free agent in April after recovering from March 2025 shoulder surgery, Grove made a memorable Rays debut — and was awarded the win for doing so.
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The Orioles aren't reinventing the wheel by doing that.
Verb
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Caleb and Kayda spend a few minutes chatting in the Say Less nook, and Zach torments himself with mental images of them making out just outside of view.
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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.
Verb
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Nowadays, Monson de Kansky still keeps busy, whether by managing the Sierra Madre property; spending time with her four children, six grandchildren and cat, Lizzie; keeping up with current affairs and old friends; or, naturally, teaching dance.
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With the Heat needing to make some important decisions in the coming days to round out its new-look roster around two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, that process even includes managing its three two-way contract slots.
Cite this Entry
“Getting by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/getting%20by. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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