get by
verb
got by; got by or gotten by; getting by; gets by
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
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
An economy where people don’t just get by, but get ahead.
—
Melissa Noel, Essence, 15 Oct. 2024
Amanda Seyfried gets by with a little help from her furry friend.
—Nicholas Rice, People.com, 13 Oct. 2024
The passing game has been inconsistent, but the Raiders got by last week despite top WR Davante Adams missing the contest with a hamstring injury.
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024
Monday’s debate with Donald Trump running mate J.D. Vance was the most screen time he’s gotten by quite a bit.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for get by 
Melissa Noel, Essence, 15 Oct. 2024
Amanda Seyfried gets by with a little help from her furry friend.
—Nicholas Rice, People.com, 13 Oct. 2024
The passing game has been inconsistent, but the Raiders got by last week despite top WR Davante Adams missing the contest with a hamstring injury.
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024
Monday’s debate with Donald Trump running mate J.D. Vance was the most screen time he’s gotten by quite a bit.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for get by
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'get by.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near get by
Cite this Entry
“Get by.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get%20by. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
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