1
: by that : by that means
thereby lost her chance to win
2
: connected with or with reference to that
… thereby hangs a tale …—
William Shakespeare
William ShakespeareExamples of thereby in a Sentence
He signed the contract, thereby forfeiting his right to the property.
Recent Examples on the Web
Changes in temperature can activate mast cells, thereby leading to symptoms.
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Abstaining from pleasure and thereby performing ‘dopamine detoxes’ is therefore necessary to reset dopamine levels.
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Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by donating electrons to stabilize reactive molecules without becoming harmful themselves, thereby halting oxidative damage and protecting cells and tissues.
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Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 15 May 2026
Doing so compresses the light reflected from the plasma, thereby increasing its intensity.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
Abstaining from pleasure and thereby performing ‘dopamine detoxes’ is therefore necessary to reset dopamine levels.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by donating electrons to stabilize reactive molecules without becoming harmful themselves, thereby halting oxidative damage and protecting cells and tissues.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for thereby
Cite this Entry
“Thereby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thereby. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thereby
adverb
there·by
t͟ha(ə)r-ˈbī 
t͟he(ə)r-;
ˈt͟ha(ə)r-ˌbī,
ˈt͟he(ə)r-
1
: by that : by that means
thereby lost her chance to win
2
: connected with or with reference to that
thereby hangs a tale
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