get by

verb

got by; got by or gotten by; getting by; gets by

intransitive verb

1

: to succeed with the least possible effort or accomplishment

2

: to make ends meet : survive

3

: to proceed without being discovered, criticized, or punished

Synonyms

• cope
• do
• fare
• get along
• get on
• make out
• manage
• shift

Examples of get by in a Sentence

working at night paid my college tuition and enabled me to get by—but just barely

Recent Examples on the Web

Glenn Close got by with a little help from her friend. —Nicholas Rice, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025

Keke Palmer is Dreux, and SZA is Alyssa, best friends and roommates in West Los Angeles who are barely getting by and dream of financial stability. —Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2025

The team found a way to get by — Bennedict Mathurin has filled in well as Indiana’s fifth starter, and that opening five has been pummeling opponents. —Tony East, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025

The reality is, the political opposition to canceling student debt isn't rooted in unfair bailouts to people who otherwise have the means to get by. —David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

get by

verb

1

: to make ends meet : manage

2

: to succeed with the least possible effort or accomplishment