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
She’s been there since January, mostly getting by on her own.
—
Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 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.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 14 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
As cold weather continues to slam the South, the stories of how people and animals are getting by continue to filter in.
—Dylan Lovan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Magallan said that most day care and child care providers are just getting by.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
For many, that’s the difference between getting by and falling behind.
—Kam Shenai, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2026
Despite all this, PG&E seems to be getting by.
—Nick Bowlin, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The Heat’s new-look offense relies on players getting by their defender and into the paint without the help of a screen.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2025
Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 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.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 14 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
As cold weather continues to slam the South, the stories of how people and animals are getting by continue to filter in.
—Dylan Lovan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Magallan said that most day care and child care providers are just getting by.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
For many, that’s the difference between getting by and falling behind.
—Kam Shenai, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2026
Despite all this, PG&E seems to be getting by.
—Nick Bowlin, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The Heat’s new-look offense relies on players getting by their defender and into the paint without the help of a screen.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for getting by
Verb
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Perimenopause Hits Earlier Than Most People Realize The fatigue of perimenopause tends to arrive alongside mood changes, heavier or irregular periods, and difficulty coping with stress that used to feel manageable.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Mar. 2026
-
These programs focus on finding healthy coping mechanisms to deal with stress and anger.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And really just getting on the board first in these tournaments really matters.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
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It’s reported that an average $222,222 salary is what players are getting on top of another unique piece of this league – equity.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But more recently the two have shown signs of getting along.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
-
But more recently the two have shown signs of getting along.—
Jim Mustian,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the midst of a statistically impressive season, LaMelo Ball is doing it all for the Charlotte Hornets.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Mar. 2026
-
With its stunning natural surroundings, Lake Como is an idyllic destination to explore with a dog, and the Edition makes doing so in style entirely possible.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Well, Gomez ended up making out with him that very night, his Armani jacket draped casually over her shoulders.—
Alex Morris,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the case, citing North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct that prohibit prosecutors from making out-of-court statements on pending cases.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Switzerland has had close diplomatic ties to the United States, managing its consular interests in Iran through the Swiss mission in Tehran and providing a venue for two rounds of nuclear negotiations with Iran in February as well as for negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
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Becoming less invested in managing outcomes and keeping everything together?—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Getting by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/getting%20by. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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