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by

by

1.0
Next to someone or something
  • adposition
  • /baɪ/
translation icon : junto a
  • He stood by the window, watching the rain fall.
  • accompanied by friends
  • surrounded by trees

Examples

Synonyms

beside
vsby
536 1.0

At the side of something or someone

is general closeness rather than exact adjacency
near
vsby
240 1.0

At a short distance in space or time

includes actual touching as well as general proximity
alongside
vsby
7 1.0

Next to someone or something, side by side

is general closeness that need not be exactly adjacent

Antonyms

far
1.0

A long way away in space

Idioms

by the way
  • Informal
448 1.5

To introduce a new topic that is not directly related

186 1.4

Things happen one after another, not at the same time

156 2.5

Shows that something is much better or more important than others

98 2.2

Next to each other in the same place

94 3.2

Say this to give someone permission or to encourage them

89 3.4

To say that something is true in most cases

81 2.0

To do something with your hands, for example writing or making things, instead of with a machine

72 2.9

To reach a place or result through something else

68 1.0

Close to you to give help and company

66 2.3

Happening without planning or intending

65 4.2

To say that something is not true or not possible at all

by the book
  • Informal
55 3.9

Following rules and official instructions exactly

54 4.1

Someone or something naturally acts that way because of their basic character

43 1.6

Happen gradually as each day passes

37 3.1

Someone does this because they decide to, not because they must

35 2.5

From memory without looking at notes

little by little
  • Informal
34 2.3

Gradually in small amounts over time

31 3.4

Living or working closely together in the same place

According to what most people say about someone or something

26 4.0

On purpose as part of a plan

25 1.0

Close to the sea at the edge of the land

by virtue of
  • Formal
25 4.5

Because of something

24 2.3

For each day

23 1.8

In a gradual way, doing each part one after another

For the same reason as what was said before

16 3.9

A job someone does or did, especially if it is not clear from what they do now

bit by bit
  • Informal
12 2.7

A little at a time

11 6.5

Done only partly and without full effort

11 6.5

Stop taking part or trying because of problems

Decide what to do as things happen rather than plan ahead

by inches
  • Informal
11 4.5

Very slowly in very small steps

by a landslide
  • Informal
9 3.8

With a very large lead in a vote or contest

by a long shot
  • Informal
9 4.1

By a much larger amount than others

by and by
  • Literature
9 7.1

After a while

Decide something about a person or thing by how they look

by the numbers
  • Informal
8 4.8

To do something in a careful, exact way that follows set rules

7 3.5

Improve or increase very quickly and by a large amount

7 3.7

Move forward slowly in very small steps

by a nose
  • Informal
5 4.9

To win with a very small lead in a race or contest

5 6.9

To stop being used or followed

To do whatever is needed to reach a goal, even if the actions are difficult or harmful

Support and stay loyal to your husband or partner during hard times

4 5.6

Something should happen because it is fair or proper

4 1.1

Happening every week and changing slowly

People tell others instead of writing

To deal with a difficult problem directly and bravely

3 7.2

To depend completely on a belief or rule

To make quick decisions without a plan

To have complete power over someone by controlling what they need or fear

3 7.7

Make someone do what you want without them noticing

by right
  • Formal
2 4.8

According to the law or what is fair

Finding a solution by trying different ways and learning from mistakes

Compounds

23 2.8

Done in separate parts, each finished before the next

19 5.9

A gun attack from a moving car that hits people outside

16 7.9

A quick, friendly praise given to someone in passing

two-by-four
  • Specialized
9 3.1

A piece of wood about two inches by four inches used for building

Blaming someone for bad acts because they are friends with guilty people, without proof

7 3.6

A person who is walking past a place by chance

6 3.9

An extra result that happens because of an action and is not planned

by-product
  • Specialized
6 3.3

Something that comes out when you make another product

blow-by-blow
  • Literature
5 7.4

A detailed step-by-step description of an event as it happens

4 2.5

Happening or changing every day

4 3.2

Date on food that shows the last day shops should keep it on shelves so it is still fresh

4 6.0

An election to fill a public office that becomes empty between general elections

fly-by
  • US
3 7.5

A low flight by military planes over people watching on the ground

trial by fire
  • Informal
3 7.4

A very difficult test that shows if someone can do a job under pressure

fly-by-night
  • Offensive
2 8.9

Not reliable and likely to disappear quickly, often for dishonest reasons

fly-by-night
  • Offensive
1 8.6

A person or business that disappears to avoid paying debts

lay-by
  • UK
1 5.9

A paved area beside a main road where vehicles stop briefly to rest or in an emergency

1 4.8

An act against the law that can lead to a fine or jail

by-and-by
  • Archaic
1 8.9

A time in the future after a while

by-blow
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A child whose parents are not married to each other

by-catch
  • Specialized
1 8.0

Animals and other sea life that are caught by accident while people fish for other species

by-line
  • Literature
1 5.1

A line in a newspaper or magazine giving the author's name

drive-by killing
  • Offensive
1 8.5

An act of shooting someone to death from a moving car

east by south
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A compass direction just south of east

northeast by north
  • Specialized
1 6.7

A compass direction slightly north of northeast, about 34 degrees from east

trial by media
  • Literature
1 6.9

News and social media make people judge someone before the court decides

south by east
  • Specialized
1 8.5

A compass direction that is a little east of south

A compass direction slightly south of southwest

west by south
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A compass direction a little south of west

A person who cooks food for a living, usually in a restaurant

A way to stop debate on parts of a bill so it can pass faster

clue-by-four
  • Slang
9.9

A strong direct hint that makes someone suddenly understand

drive-by event
  • Neologism
4.6

A gathering where people stay in their cars and take part briefly

drive-by media
  • Literature
9.1

News outlets that give quick, shallow reports and often miss important facts

east by north
  • Specialized
9.1

A compass direction one point north of due east

A wild plant with leaves that smell like garlic and can be eaten

7.9

A court decision for one side when the other side does not appear or reply

north by east
  • Specialized
8.1

A compass direction slightly east of north at about 11 degrees

north by west
  • Specialized
8.1

A compass direction slightly west of north used for navigation

northeast by east
  • Specialized
8.1

A compass direction one point east of northeast, halfway to east-northeast

northwest by north
  • Specialized
4.2

A compass direction slightly north of northwest

northwest by west
  • Specialized
7.5

A compass direction slightly west of northwest, about 292 degrees

Thinking that removes wrong options until one answer remains

9.9

Shooting at a suspected enemy position to make them respond and show where they are

A legal promise that a person charged with a crime gets a quick, public court hearing by a jury

8.1

A way of governing in which a leader makes decisions without parliament's approval

A simple painting kit with numbered areas to fill with set colors, or a predictable way of doing something

A fixed, simple way of doing creative work that leaves little room for new ideas

7.5

Announcing official decisions to the public by press release before any internal discussion

Announcing scientific results to the public before other scientists check them

trial by ordeal
  • Literature
9.9

A way to decide if someone is guilty by making them do dangerous tests and seeing if they survive

south by west
  • Specialized
7.7

A compass direction a little west of due south

A compass direction that is a little east of southeast at about 124 degrees from north

A compass direction slightly south of southeast, at 157.5 degrees from north

A compass direction a little west of southwest

west by north
  • Specialized
6.7

A compass direction slightly north of west about 11 degrees

Surface Forms

by main

Etymology

By comes from the same old English word meaning 'near' or 'at the side', so when something is by something else it is 'next to' it, as you can see in the word 'nearby'.