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.
San Francisco got by Sunday with contributions from their remaining three captains — Christian McCaffrey, Fred Warner and Deommodore Lenoir — as well as big efforts from Pearsall, Pineiro and Dee Winters . The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025 White played just 29 snaps in the season opener, and the defense got by without him in Miami thanks to backups like Anfernee Jennings, who has fully bought into Vrabel’s program despite being placed on the trade block this summer. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025 Pilots who fly for fun and realtors looking to add aerial photos to listings will be able to get by with alternatives like the Potensic Atom 2, but its picture quality won't satisfy discerning eyes. PC Magazine, 17 Sep. 2025 When trophy apartments are now synonymous with supertall towers and sweeping views, a maisonette co-op may not be the first choice for those with the bank accounts and social connections to get by the board of 660 Park Avenue. Robert Khederian, Curbed, 17 Sep. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Get by.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get%20by. Accessed 23 Sep. 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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