By: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to indicate proximity or location next to something, often in a general sense.

• He sat by the window
• I left my keys by the door

Used to describe something or someone directly adjacent or immediately beside another.

• He parked his car next to mine
• The supermarket is next to the pharmacy

Used to indicate someone or something next to another person or object, often in a more specific or precise sense.

• She stood beside her friend
• The book is beside the lamp

Used to indicate a short distance from something or someone, can be used in a physical or abstract sense.

• There's a park near my house
• The project is near completion

Used to show a short physical or emotional distance; emphasizes a slightly broader sense of proximity.

• The hotel is close to the beach
• She feels very close to her family

This is generally used to indicate the position of something that is beside or next to something else. It is commonly used in everyday conversation and written text.

• The restaurant is by the river.
• She stood by the door, waiting for him.

This is used to indicate proximity in a more general sense, which can be physical or emotional closeness. Common in everyday speech.

• The grocery store is close to my house.
• They have been close friends for years.

This is used to describe something that is within a short distance from another thing. It is less formal and often used in everyday conversation.

• The park is near our school.
• A gas station is near the highway exit.

This term is more formal and often used in technical, academic, or professional contexts to describe something directly next to something else.

• The office is adjacent to the conference room.
• They bought the house adjacent to their parents' home.

This preposition is commonly used to indicate the person who performs an action, the means by which something happens, or proximity. It's not just a word, it's more of a grammatical tool.

• The book was written by the famous author.
• She traveled by train.
• The store is by the bank.

This adjective is used when something is of less importance or falls second in priority compared to the main issue. It can also mean something that comes after the primary one in sequence or order.

• Saving money was a secondary benefit of quitting smoking.
• Her secondary objective is to improve her writing skills.

This adjective is used when something occurs as a minor event or as a byproduct of something else. It implies that the event was not planned or intended.

• The small scratches on the car were incidental to the minor collision.
• These extra costs are incidental and not part of the main budget.

This term is used to describe a topic or problem that is not the main focus. It tends to be less important and can be seen as a distraction.

• Let's not focus on the side issue; we need to solve the main problem first.
• The argument about the budget was just a side issue in the larger discussion about the project.