By: meaning, definitions and examples

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by

 

[ baɪ ]

Preposition / Adverb / Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Preposition

in a certain place

Used to show the place where someone or something is: She is sitting by the window. They live by the river. There is a small table by the bed.

Synonyms

beside, close to, near, next to

Examples of usage

  • He stood by the door, waiting for her to arrive.
  • The cat is hiding by the tree.
  • The bookshelf is by the wall.
  • We took a walk by the beach.
  • She left her bag by the chair.
Context #2 | Adverb

close

Used to indicate proximity or distance: Come by and visit us sometime. I'll stop by the store on my way home.

Synonyms

adjacent, close, near

Examples of usage

  • I'll drop by your office later today.
  • Let's swing by the park before heading home.
  • She passed by the cafe on her way to work.
Context #3 | Noun

secondary means

A secondary or incidental issue or consideration: The main issue is the budget, but the lack of staff is also a factor to consider, though it is just a by.

Synonyms

incidental, secondary, side issue

Examples of usage

  • The by of the situation is the limited resources available.
  • Don't let the by distract you from the main goal.

Translations

Translations of the word "by" in other languages:

🇵🇹 por

🇮🇳 द्वारा

🇩🇪 durch

🇮🇩 oleh

🇺🇦 через

🇵🇱 przez

🇯🇵 によって

🇫🇷 par

🇪🇸 por

🇹🇷 tarafından

🇰🇷 에 의해

🇸🇦 بواسطة

🇨🇿 přes

🇸🇰 cez

🇨🇳 通过

🇸🇮 s strani

🇮🇸 með

🇰🇿 арқылы

🇬🇪 მიერ

🇦🇿 tərəfindən

🇲🇽 por

Word origin

The word 'by' originated from the Old English word 'bī'. It has been used in English for centuries to indicate proximity, location, or secondary considerations. Over time, 'by' has evolved to be used in various contexts and has become an essential preposition in the English language.

See also: be, bead, beep, being.