Illustration of goby
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
went by; gone by; going by; goes by
: pass sense 3b
as time goes by
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
Christine Keiner, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025
Researchers said the single specimen may represent a new cryptic species of Ward’s sleeper goby.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
Bill Whitaker, CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
This year's treasure trove features famous faces like the original Betty Boop — whose iconic hoop earrings originally took the form of floppy dog ears — and the initial version of Disney's Pluto, who first went by the name Rover.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for goby
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Noun
Today, the Erie Canal remains vulnerable to invasive plants, such as water chestnut and hydrilla, and invasive animals such as round goby.
—Christine Keiner, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025
Researchers said the single specimen may represent a new cryptic species of Ward’s sleeper goby.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
But every year that goes by of the barrel aging, the seesaw comes into balance.
—Bill Whitaker, CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
This year's treasure trove features famous faces like the original Betty Boop — whose iconic hoop earrings originally took the form of floppy dog ears — and the initial version of Disney's Pluto, who first went by the name Rover.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for goby
Cite this Entry
“Goby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goby. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
goby
noun
go·by
ˈgō-bē 
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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