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

What would have been more than enough to cover monthly expenses in addition to putting aside money for a rainy day, savings, investments, and retirement, as well as luxury or one-time purchases, is now just enough to get by and survive. —Rachel Wells, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024

The ball that got by Muncy somehow turned into more runs. —Bill Plunkett, Orange County Register, 11 Sep. 2024

Some might argue that Judy initially looks a bit glam for a mother of five who clips coupons in a household that’s barely getting by. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2024

Remember, avoiding these mistakes could mean the difference between simply getting by and truly thriving. —Melissa Houston, Forbes, 19 Sep. 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