by-and-by 1 of 2

Definition of by-and-bynext
as in future
time that is to come we shall meet again in the by-and-by

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

by and by

2 of 2

adverb

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of by-and-by
Adverb
The character giving that agonizing scream on the dragon, by and by, is Lady Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia). James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Dec. 2023 But nemesis haunts every heroic age and, by and by, this good court would succumb to the corrupting influence of lesser men. Ian MacDougall, Harper's Magazine, 12 Sep. 2022 The red oak leaves were staying put, by and by, of course. Bob Timmons, Star Tribune, 16 Oct. 2020 The previous GoT prequel project starring Naomi Watts, by and by, shot a pilot in Northern Ireland before HBO decided not to move forward with that one. James Hibberd, EW.com, 14 Oct. 2020 Those numbers are going to get better, by and by. Byron McCauley, The Enquirer, 12 Aug. 2020 But by and by he allows himself to be coaxed into the fold. Michael Friedrich, The New Republic, 24 May 2018 Robert Frost would not gaze off into the snowy world, telling this tale with a sigh, by and by, not yet. Mary O’Connell , Longreads, 18 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for by-and-by
Noun
  • Max said new owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez wanted the franchise's all-time scoring leader to be part of their future.
    Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
  • His higher-profile teammates, the ones who score much more often or who have professional basketball futures, either in the United States or overseas, received all the attention.
    Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • Writer Hugo Vickers writes in the upcoming biography Queen Elizabeth II that Philip underwent heart surgery on March 1, 2021, shortly before his death and almost did not make it.
    Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
  • That’s how, last night, the best golfer most of us have ever seen slinked out of a Florida jail shortly before midnight and headed off into an uncertain future.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Starting tomorrow, Southern California residents who won the locals-only pre-sale tickets lottery for the upcoming LA28 games will start receiving emails to purchase their seats at the Olympics.
    Laurie Perez, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Get him here, Netanyahu's kid down in Miami—get him out tomorrow.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Adverb
  • The deeper the water, the sooner a vehicle loses traction on the road.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026
  • The dots soon became acrid splotches of oil.
    Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Established in 2023, the biennial prize is given in recognition of next-gen multidisciplinary artists working at the intersection of art, media, and technology to explore notions of futurity and transformation.
    News Desk, Artforum, 4 Nov. 2025
  • This reading list offers resources for engaging with Indigenous thought, resistance, and futurity.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 11 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • Protein, fats, and fiber are key to keeping you full, so a meal low on those vital nutrients could leave you feeling peckish before long.
    Caroline Tien, SELF, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Genet avoided prison in this case, but before long he was engaged in a seemingly endless cycle of theft, arrest, brief imprisonment (for weeks or months), and release, only to steal again and restart the cycle.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“By-and-by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/by-and-by. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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