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

After paying for all my bills and essentials, there's barely enough left to get by. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024

Unlike the 1950s and 60s when a single income could support a middle-class family, the modern cost of living crisis means most households require two incomes just to get by. —Gemma Allen, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

Engagement ring shopping can be a daunting task—get by with a little help from your friends. —Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2024

But that would still leave the hundreds of millions of people living in future Pakistan to get by with much less power than Texas generates today, with a fraction of Pakistan’s population. —Noah Gordon, Vox, 1 Dec. 2024

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