goby

1 of 2

noun

go·​by ˈgō-bē How to pronounce goby (audio)
plural gobies also goby
: any of numerous spiny-finned fishes (family Gobiidae) that usually have the pelvic fins united to form a ventral sucking disk

Illustration of goby

Illustration of goby

go by

2 of 2

verb

went by; gone by; going by; goes by

intransitive verb

: pass sense 3b
as time goes by

Examples of goby in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Sorokin: The two fish that got the most attention are the steelhead trout and the tidewater gobies. Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025 Another endangered fish, northern tidewater gobies, were rescued from the same watershed shortly before the steelhead were liberated. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
No one knows yet the precise number of unauthorized residents who let the April 15 tax deadline go by without responding. Thomas Elias, Mercury News, 13 May 2025 Scientists project the noisy insects will be mostly gone by July. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for goby

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin gobius gudgeon, from Greek kōbios

First Known Use

Noun

1769, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1508, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of goby was in 1508

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Goby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goby. Accessed 17 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

goby

noun
go·​by ˈgō-bē How to pronounce goby (audio)
plural gobies also goby
: any of numerous spiny-finned fishes that often have the pelvic fins united to form a sucking disk

More from Merriam-Webster on goby

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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