goby

1 of 2

noun

go·​by ˈgō-bē How to pronounce goby (audio)
plural gobies also goby
: any of numerous spiny-finned fishes (family Gobiidae) that usually have the pelvic fins united to form a ventral sucking disk

Illustration of goby

Illustration of goby

go by

2 of 2

verb

went by; gone by; going by; goes by

intransitive verb

: pass sense 3b
as time goes by

transitive verb

1
a
: to be guided or directed by : act in accordance with
going by the rules
went by what we'd been told
b
: to form an opinion from
You can't go by appearances.
2
: to be known by (a name)
goes by her birth name
goes by an alias
3
: to go (somewhere) especially to see someone
I went by your house yesterday.

Examples of goby in a Sentence

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.
Noun
Blennies and gobies are tiring to look at, darting every which way above. Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026 Ross Gudgeon, Australia - Close-Up Photographer of the Year A yellow clown goby guards its eggs in Anilao, Philippines. Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 12 Feb. 2026
Verb
According to Maeil Business, a representative for Starship Entertainment, who produced the video, said, Shiloh, who now goes by Shiloh Jolie, was selected through an open audition process in the United States. ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026 The Lick, Kluender, Yager and Ninneman families have also been an integral part of the tradition, members of the Francis and Pietruszewski families said, as familiar faces from years gone by, old friends from the neighborhood, college or work all stop in. Elliot Mann, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for goby

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin gobius gudgeon, from Greek kōbios

First Known Use

Noun

1769, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1508, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of goby was in 1508

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Goby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goby. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

goby

noun
go·​by ˈgō-bē How to pronounce goby (audio)
plural gobies also goby
: any of numerous spiny-finned fishes that often have the pelvic fins united to form a sucking disk

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