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

Now the astronauts have to get by on only instant coffee. —Michael Nied, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Those Rangers got by with uncharacteristic lineup holes to win a pennant. —Tim Britton, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025

The top 1 percent control nearly half of the world's wealth, while billions struggle to get by. —Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025

How do commercial and residential electricity users get by in the meantime? —Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for get by

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids Definition

get by

verb

1

: to make ends meet : manage

2

: to succeed with the least possible effort or accomplishment