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

For neurodivergent employees, in particular, an inclusive environment can be the difference between simply getting by and truly thriving. —Shaun Arora, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

Lau Man-hung, a 63-year-old driver, for instance, skips meals and bathroom breaks just to stay behind the wheel long enough to take home about $2,500 a month, barely enough to get by in one of the most expensive cities in the world. —David Pierson, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2025

Niners had won four straight in series before Cards got by 24-23 in October. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025

The challenges were getting by, of simple everyday living. —Joe Davidson, Sacramento Bee, 2 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