First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1by
preposition \ˈbī, before consonants also bə\
: close to or next to (something or someone)
: up to and beyond (something or someone)
: at or to (someone's home)
Full Definition of BY
1
: in proximity to : near <standing by the window>
2
3
a : during the course of <studied by night> b : not later than <by 2 p.m.>
4
a : through the agency or instrumentality of <by force> b : born or begot of c : sired or borne by
5
: with the witness or sanction of <swear by all that is holy>
6
a : in conformity with <acted by the rules> b : according to <called her by name>
7
a : on behalf of <did right by his children> b : with respect to <a lawyer by profession>
8
a : in or to the amount or extent of <win by a nose> b chiefly Scottish : in comparison with : beside
9
—used as a function word to indicate successive units or increments <little by little> <walk two by two>
10
—used as a function word in multiplication, in division, and in measurements <divide a by b> <multiply 10 by 4> <a room 15 feet by 20 feet>
11
: in the opinion of : from the point of view of <okay by me>
— by the by or by the bye
: incidentally 2
See by defined for English-language learners
See by defined for kids
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Origin of BY
Middle English, preposition & adverb, from Old English, preposition, be, bī; akin to Old High German bī by, near, Latin ambi- on both sides, around, Greek amphi
2by
adverb \ˈbī\
—used with put to describe something that is being kept or saved for a future use
: at or to someone's home
: close or near
Full Definition of BY
1
a : close at hand : near b : at or to another's home <stop by>
2
: past <saw him go by>
See by defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of BY
before 12th century
3by
adjective \ˈbī\
Definition of BY
1
: being off the main route : side
2
Variants of BY
by or bye \ˈbī\
First Known Use of BY
14th century
4by
noun \ˈbī\
plural byes \ˈbīz\
Definition of BY
: something of secondary importance : a side issue
Variants of BY
by or bye \ˈbī\
First Known Use of BY
1567
5by
interjection \ˈbī\
Definition of BY
—used to express farewell ; often used with following now
Variants of BY
by or bye \ˈbī\
Origin of BY
short for goodbye
First Known Use: 1709
BY THE BY Defined for Kids
1by
preposition \bī\
Definition of BY for Kids
1
: close to : near <His dog stood by the door.>
2
: so as to go on <We went by the back road.> <I prefer to travel by bus.>
3
: so as to go through <The burglar left by the back window.>
4
: so as to pass <A policeman drove by the house.>
6
: no later than <Be sure to leave by noon.>
7
: with the use or help of <She won by cheating.>
8
: through the action of <It was seen by the others.>
9
: according to 1 <Play by the rules.>
10
: with respect to <He is a lawyer by profession.> <She is a Canadian by birth.>
11
: to the amount of <The youngest runner won by a mile.>
12
—used to join two or more measurements <a room 14 feet wide by 20 feet long> or to join the numbers in a statement of multiplication or division <Divide 8 by 4.>
2by
adverb
Definition of BY for Kids
1
: near at hand <Stand by.>
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