Synonyms for

By

Verb / baɪ / Another word for by — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

By is a preposition that means next to, beside, or near.

Synonyms & similar words

past aside away beside near alongside past through via with nearby notwithstanding per

Synonyms by register

Formal

via through per

Informal

with using through

Literary

nigh beside

Antonyms

across away past beyond without apart

Common collocations

  • by hand
  • by far
  • by chance
  • by means of
  • by the way
  • by and large
  • step by step
  • side by side

Word family

noun bypass
adverb by

Usage note

The preposition 'by' has many uses, including indicating agency, method, proximity, and passage. Its meaning is highly context-dependent.

Example sentences

  1. I sat by my friend at lunch today.
  2. The cat walked by the door.
  3. The park is by the library.
  4. She went by the store on her way home.
  5. The bus drove by the school.

Quotes

  • 'I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'' - Martin Luther King Jr.
  • 'The best way to predict the future is to invent it.' - Alan Kay
  • 'The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.' - Ernest Hemingway

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the and that for you with was this are have not from

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