as in coping
to meet one's day-to-day needs
working at night paid my college tuition and enabled me to get by—but just barely
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of getting by
As Americans are barely getting by because of inflation, tariffs, and a cost-of-living crisis, saving for retirement can feel like the priority lowest on the totem pole.
—
Sydney Lake, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
She’s been there since January, mostly getting by on her own.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Federal employees are guaranteed to receive back pay once the shutdown ends, according to a 2019 law, but getting by until then can be hard.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026
For those who worked part-time while raising children, or who’ve spent decades just getting by with little chance to save for retirement, old age can hit hard.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
As cold weather continues to slam the South, the stories of how people and animals are getting by continue to filter in.
—Dylan Lovan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Magallan said that most day care and child care providers are just getting by.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
For many, that’s the difference between getting by and falling behind.
—Kam Shenai, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2026
Despite all this, PG&E seems to be getting by.
—Nick Bowlin, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Sydney Lake, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
She’s been there since January, mostly getting by on her own.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Federal employees are guaranteed to receive back pay once the shutdown ends, according to a 2019 law, but getting by until then can be hard.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026
For those who worked part-time while raising children, or who’ve spent decades just getting by with little chance to save for retirement, old age can hit hard.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
As cold weather continues to slam the South, the stories of how people and animals are getting by continue to filter in.
—Dylan Lovan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Magallan said that most day care and child care providers are just getting by.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
For many, that’s the difference between getting by and falling behind.
—Kam Shenai, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2026
Despite all this, PG&E seems to be getting by.
—Nick Bowlin, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for getting by
Verb
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For one participant, a spike in social media app use was associated with feeling less connected to others and having more difficulty coping with emotions.—
Crista Marchesseault,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
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Another study published in 2022 in the OMEGA Journal of Death and Dying found that humor is both a common grief trigger and a common coping mechanism for managing grief.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And really just getting on the board first in these tournaments really matters.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
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It’s reported that an average $222,222 salary is what players are getting on top of another unique piece of this league – equity.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In this sketch, a group of women worries about whether their husbands in the other room are getting along.—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Just two co-stars getting along.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Pretty soon people realized that some women had actually always been out there doing things.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Add into the mix consistent hand-washing, doing the dishes with harsh soaps, and something as mundane as getting gel nail polish cured with a UV light?—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Well, Gomez ended up making out with him that very night, his Armani jacket draped casually over her shoulders.—
Alex Morris,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
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The Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the case, citing North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct that prohibit prosecutors from making out-of-court statements on pending cases.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Philadelphia finished with 15 total shots after managing just two in the first half.—
Colin Cerniglia,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Apr. 2026
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When present at high levels in the blood, these fats can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease, so managing them is important.—
Kirsten Nunez,
Martha Stewart,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Getting by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/getting%20by. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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