as in to cope
to meet one's day-to-day needs
working at night paid my college tuition and enabled me to get by—but just barely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of get by
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
The twin mom is hopeful this, and other content she's shared on her accounts, helps other twin parents get by a little easier.
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for 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
The twin mom is hopeful this, and other content she's shared on her accounts, helps other twin parents get by a little easier.
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for get by
Recent Examples of Synonyms for get by
Verb
-
Echo Valley The in-demand Sydney Sweeney stars in this thriller about the daughter of a horse-trainer coping with personal tragedy.Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2025
-
The new guide offers advice, tips and resources to empower artists to cope with stress, manage their mental and physical health and cultivate successful, sustainable careers.Andrea Zarczynski, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
From its deployment of renewable energy infrastructure to the planting of some 600 million trees, doing and being seen to be doing green things is intended to put Kyiv on the same environmental page as Brussels.David Vetter, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
-
In a version of the show made for teens or adults, perhaps the coach would be presented as doing this on purpose — or, at least, shrugging the mistake off as no big deal when it’s pointed out.Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Finding a partner for corporate social responsibility activities is not as straightforward as simply pinning a logo next to a prominent nongovernmental organization and getting on with business.Patrick O'Neill, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
-
At Tatiana’s, several diners were eager to get on with their partying.Daniel Arnold, New York Times, 28 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
And to have a group of people around us that are supportive and happy when Chris and I get along?Jim Ryan, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
-
Politics & Policy The Pleasure of Disagreeing with Bill Buckley Jeff Greenfield Recalling a time when liberals and conservatives could get along.William Voegeli, National Review, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
That's how developers managed to propose a 240-foot building in the coastal height-limit area, with 74 apartments and 139 hotel rooms, despite zoning restrictions that allow only 31 apartments.Andrew Keatts, Axios, 19 Dec. 2024
-
After enduring a four-game losing streak in the middle of the season, Cal managed to finish 3-2 in their last five games.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near get by
Cite this Entry
“Get by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/get%20by. Accessed 7 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share