thereby

adverb

there·​by t͟her-ˈbī How to pronounce thereby (audio)
ˈt͟her-ˌbī
1
: by that : by that means
thereby lost her chance to win
2
: connected with or with reference to that
thereby hangs a taleWilliam Shakespeare

Examples of thereby in a Sentence

He signed the contract, thereby forfeiting his right to the property.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
This little composite tile preserves mission-critical functions, thereby protecting spacecraft, space stations, and people in orbit from increasingly prevalent, yet invisible threats. David Szondy october 26, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025 Bail reform and broader use of cite-and-release policies would reduce the number of incarcerated people, and thereby lower the number of in-custody deaths, the study said. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025 The Yarra Junction boomerang, unusual in its size and shape, was deeply integrated into the original societies of Australia, but this one, specifically, came after colonization, thereby bringing up another formative chapter in the country’s history. Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2025 First, the state provisions impose more stringent requirements than what the NVRA allows for federal elections, thereby creating two different processes that are not equivalent. Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for thereby

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thereby was before the 12th century

Cite this Entry

“Thereby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thereby. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

thereby

adverb
there·​by t͟ha(ə)r-ˈbī How to pronounce thereby (audio)
t͟he(ə)r-;
ˈt͟ha(ə)r-ˌbī,
ˈt͟he(ə)r-
1
: by that : by that means
thereby lost her chance to win
2
: connected with or with reference to that
thereby hangs a tale

More from Merriam-Webster on thereby

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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