by 1 of 2

1
2
as in with
using the means or agency of try to convince them by reason alone, if possible

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
as in during
in the course of she attends college by day and works at the club by night

Synonyms & Similar Words

by

2 of 2

adverb

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 by
Preposition
As actual spirits, released from their corporeal form, or visions conjured up by the eyes or minds of those who see them—or something else? Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 1 June 2025 This burst of energy may be connected to the emotional clarity brought on by the full moon in your sign on May 12. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 June 2025
Adverb
At the Camp Nou, as the open-top bus passed by, the workers came over to greet the players from their positions. Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 18 May 2025 Over at Taylor’s, Dakota swings by to play airplane with Ever True and discuss the state of their relationship. Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for by
Recent Examples of Synonyms for by
Preposition
  • Julian Arreola, a brand ambassador for St-Germain, says via Zoom that travel and social media helped drive the trend.
    Rachel King, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
  • All of those GPUs have 32 of AMD's compute units, and all are connected to either 8GB or 16GB of GDDR6 via a 128-bit memory interface.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 4 June 2025
Preposition
  • Make sure the tires reconnect with the road - During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 June 2025
  • Large hail, damaging wind, and continuous cloud to ground lightning are occurring with this storm.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 June 2025
Preposition
  • Since then, the conversation around intimacy coördinators has grown spikier.
    Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
  • Hopes that President Trump will lower his tariffs after reaching such trade deals with countries around the world have been among the main reasons the S&P 500 has rallied so furiously since dropping roughly 20% from its record two months ago.
    Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
Preposition
  • Tax Cuts and Tax Breaks in the Big Beautiful Bill Lowers Tax Brackets The new legislation makes the lower income tax rates created during the first Trump Administration in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) permanent.
    Cindy McGhee, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • Will Smith was banned from the Oscars for ten years after slapping a fellow artist during a live broadcast.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 31 May 2025
Adverb
  • De Jong dug his heels in and refused to leave or give up the money he was owed.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 6 June 2025
  • Shrewdly, once the exuberance ends, Flanagan lets the blahs back in.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
Preposition
  • Under the watchful gaze of security guards, dozens of people streamed through metal detectors to enter Temple Israel one evening this month for a town hall meeting on hate crimes and domestic terrorism.
    Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 31 May 2025
  • In China’s case, infrastructure and trade development through the Belt and Road Initiative is counterbalanced with shows of military strength in the South China Sea.
    Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
Preposition
  • The 24-foot boat had sunk in the Sacramento River three weeks ago, near the Virgin Sturgeon Restaurant & Marina, according to Eric Laughlin, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
    Ethan Wolin, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2025
  • Here’s what could happen next — Holly Ellyatt Global market action overnight Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed and U.S. stock futures were near flat overnight with sentiment dented by U.S. data showing private sector hiring has hit its lowest level in over two years.
    Chloe Taylor,Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 5 June 2025
Preposition
  • But, despite the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the rights enshrined in the Constitution, this country didn’t come close to being fully free and democratic until the 1960s, when Black people finally gained the right to vote throughout the land.
    Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
  • Age Body fat level and distribution naturally change throughout a lifetime, and BMI doesn't consider this.
    Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 4 June 2025

Cite this Entry

“By.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/by. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.

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