bypreposition
uk/baɪ/us/baɪ/by preposition (AGENT)
A2 used to show the person or thing that does something:
The motorcycle was driven by a tiny bald man.
We were amazed by what she told us.
I'm reading some short stories (written) by Chekhov.
The book was translated by a well-known author.
I felt frightened by the anger in his voice.
More examples
- The roof of the temple was held up by a row of thick stone columns.
- The girl's mother was at home today, being comforted by relatives.
- The English were conquered by the Normans in 1066.
- The temperature is controlled by a thermostat.
- Any painting by Van Gogh is worth a fortune.
by preposition (METHOD)
A2 used to show how something is done:
They travelled across Europe by train/car.
She did the decorating (all) by herself (= alone, without help from anyone).
We went in by (= through) the front door.
Do you want to be paid in cash or by cheque?
He learned English by listening to the radio.
Suddenly, she grabbed him by the arm (= took hold of this part of his body).
I refuse to live by (= following) their rules.
More examples
- She cheated in the test by copying from the boy in front.
- I don't have any cash on me, so could I pay by cheque?
- Whenever I travel by train, I always travel first class.
- He managed to stay afloat by holding on to the side of the boat.
- The pilot avoided a collision by changing course.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Ways of achieving things
- a means to an end idiom
- actively
- another
- approach
- avenue
- basis
- fair
- jump
- mean
- medium
- mixed media
- modality
- modus operandi
- one way or another idiom
- one-handed
- resort
- vein
- what's the drill for sth? idiom
- whereby
- workings
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by preposition (POSITION)
B1 near or at the side of:
A small child stood sullenly by her side.
He wanted to keep her close by him always.
The policewoman walked by (= past) them without saying a word.
More examples
- We spent a week by the coast.
- He held my arms down by my sides.
- He has a house down by the harbour.
- She sat reading by the fireside.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Closeness in distance and time
- a few/couple of steps idiom
- a hair's breadth idiom
- a stone's throw idiom
- ace
- anywhere
- anywhere near idiom
- eyeball to eyeball idiom
- face-to-face
- float
- float around
- hand to hand idiom
- hard by
- propinquity
- proximity
- roof
- round the corner idiom
- shadow
- shout
- step
- towards
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by preposition (NOT LATER THAN)
A2 not later than; at or before:
She had promised to be back by five o'clock.
The application must be in by the 31st to be accepted.
By the time I got to the station the train had already gone.
More examples
- We are committed to withdrawing our troops by the end of the year.
- All contributions for the school magazine must be received by 1 August.
- We need a firm decision by the end of the week.
- I've got to be home by seven.
- I aim to be a millionaire by the time I'm 35.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Before, after and already
- advance
- afore
- afterwards
- already
- ante
- as it is idiom
- following
- formerly
- front
- gone
- heretofore
- immediate
- in advance idiom
- in advance of sth/sb idiom
- later
- prologue
- shortly
- subsequent
- successor
- thereafter
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by preposition (MEASUREMENT)
B2 used to show measurements or amounts:
Our office floor space measured twelve metres by ten (= was twelve metres in one direction and ten in the other).
Their wages were increased by 15 percent.
Freelance workers are paid by the hour (= for every hour they work).
These phones have sold by the thousand (= several thousand have been sold).
minute by minute/hour by hour/day by day, etc. also by the minute/hour/day, etc.
used to say that something increases or changes with every minute, hour, day, etc. that passes:
The death toll from the hurricane was climbing minute by minute/by the minute.
The credibility of the campaign has deterioriated month by month/by the month.
minute-by-minute/hour-by-hour, etc.
describing or showing what happens every minute, hour, etc.:
a minute-by-minute timeline of the incident
The book paints a detailed, week-by-week portrait of his father's illness.
by preposition (DURING)
during:
We travelled by night and rested by day.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Simultaneous and consecutive
- accompany
- all the while idiom
- along
- along the way idiom
- alternate
- even
- in rotation idiom
- in tandem idiom
- in the process idiom
- live
- no sooner ... than idiom
- once
- over
- sync
- synchronous
- the minute (that) idiom
- through
- throughout
- together
- under
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by nature, profession, trade, etc.
used when describing someone's character, job, etc.:
She is, by nature, a sunny, positive kind of person.
He's a plumber by trade.
She was, by profession, a lawyer.
be all right/fine by sb
If something is all right/fine by someone, they agree that it can happen:
"I'd rather go later." "That's fine by me."
If it's all right by you, I'd like to leave now.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Accepting & agreeing
- accept
- accredited
- assent
- be ruled by sb idiom
- buy-in
- conclude
- countenance
- court
- embrace
- gauntlet
- leap
- middle ground
- mustn't grumble idiom
- pounce
- reach
- respect
- signatory
- swallow
- take sb up on sth
- unquestioning
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byadverb
uk/baɪ/us/baɪ/B1 at the side of or (in distance or time) past:
The policewoman walked by without saying a word.
Why don't you call in for a cup of coffee next time you're passing by?
The years flew by.
More examples
- I was just passing by, so I thought I'd drop in for a chat.
- He tapped Brown on the shoulder as he went by.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Closeness in distance and time
- a few/couple of steps idiom
- a hair's breadth idiom
- a stone's throw idiom
- ace
- anywhere
- anywhere near idiom
- eyeball to eyeball idiom
- face-to-face
- float
- float around
- hand to hand idiom
- hard by
- propinquity
- proximity
- roof
- round the corner idiom
- shadow
- shout
- step
- towards
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Idiom(s)
by and by