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Glite Dictionary
by the way

by the way

∞ 1.5
To introduce a new topic that is not directly related
  • idiom
  • Informal
: por cierto
  • I wanted to mention, by the way, that the meeting has been rescheduled.
  • good, by the way

Like if this is real, by the way, right?

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Examples

  • By the way, did you hear about the new cafe opening downtown?

  • - You were amazing, by the way.

    Gran Turismo (2023)

  • Like if this is real, by the way, right?

    H3 Podcast

  • What I sell for free, by the way, is hard.

    GaryVee

  • All of which, by the way, was meant to happen.

  • You really need health insurance, by the way.

    Ordinary Angels (2024)

  • Where is Eric, by the way?

    Werewolf Cabal (2022)

  • "I'm sorry to bring this up, by the way," he mentioned one day.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Finally, ready to end the discussion, the judge said to Peter, "By the way, what's in your bag?"

    Fiction book (1994)

  • And by the way, I put a note in your file so no pharmacy will fill your prescription.

    I'm Not Gay : A Musical (2023)

Synonyms

you know what
vsby the way
  • Informal
∞ 7.5

To say something new or surprising to get someone's attention

adds extra information more neutrally without calling special attention
besides
vsby the way
∞ 1.0

To add another reason or fact

introduces a new unrelated subject rather than merely adding another reason
BTW
vsby the way
  • Texting
150 7.2

To add a short extra comment in a message or conversation

is the full spoken phrase used in normal conversation rather than the abbreviation
incidentally
vsby the way
122 4.8

To add extra information not directly related

is more casual and used in everyday talk rather than a neutral formal style
apropos
vsby the way
  • Formal
9 8.1

To introduce a new topic that is related to what was said

is used for information not directly related rather than for relevant points
by the bye
vsby the way
  • Archaic
2 9.0

To say something extra that is not about the main topic

is the common modern expression rather than the old fashioned form
en passant
vsby the way
1 9.9

To say something quickly as a side remark, not as the main point

introduces a separate new topic rather than a brief passing comment

Antonyms

focus
∞ 3.5

Close attention to one subject or activity

main concept
1 3.4

The most important idea in a discussion or text

How Related

for instance
778 1.5
incidentally
122 4.8
by the way
  • Informal
∞ 1.5
aside
  • Literature
35 5.5

Surface Forms

by the way positive

Morphology

by + the + way

The literal parts 'by' + 'the way' can suggest a sense of something said 'along the way' or 'in passing', which gives a loose clue to the pragmatic meaning 'incidentally' or 'introducing an aside'. However, its use as a conventional discourse marker to introduce new or unrelated information is pragmatic and somewhat conventionalized, so a B1 learner knowing the words may not fully predict its conversational function without exposure.

Etymology

The phrase by the way may come from the image of someone walking along a path and stepping to the side to say something extra. Think of by as 'near' and the way as the main path, so the phrase now means to add a comment that is 'not directly related' to the main topic.