get by

verb

got by; got by or gotten by; getting by; gets by

intransitive verb

1
: to succeed with the least possible effort or accomplishment
2
: to make ends meet : survive
3
: to proceed without being discovered, criticized, or punished

Examples of get by in a Sentence

working at night paid my college tuition and enabled me to get by—but just barely
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.
Joey Logano gets by Corey LaJoie to lead once again! Alex Zietlow and, Charlotte Observer, 17 Feb. 2025 Some people don’t get by with their secrets and with evading the effects of those secrets. Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2025 But Bulls fans will get by, and hopefully the new core will blossom together at the right time, as happens from time to time. Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025 Chance lives a life of crime just to get by when her community is singled out for a government rejuvenation scheme, promising to bring her coastal town back to life. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for get by 

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of get by was in 1841

Dictionary Entries Near get by

Cite this Entry

“Get by.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get%20by. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

get by

verb
1
: to make ends meet : manage
2
: to succeed with the least possible effort or accomplishment

More from Merriam-Webster on get by

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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