GET BY
Dictionary entry overview: What does get by mean?
• GET BY (verb)
The verb GET BY has 3 senses:
1. come to terms or deal successfully with
2. pass or move in front of
3. escape potentially unpleasant consequences; get away with a forbidden action
Familiarity information: GET BY used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• GET BY (verb)
Meaning:
Come to terms or deal successfully with
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
make do; grapple; get by; cope; manage; deal; contend; make out
Context examples:
We got by on just a gallon of gas / They made do on half a loaf of bread every day
Hypernyms (to "get by" is one way to...):
act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get by"):
extemporize; improvise (manage in a makeshift way; do with whatever is at hand)
fend (try to manage without help)
cut; hack (be able to manage or manage successfully)
rub along; scrape along; scrape by; scratch along; squeak by; squeeze by (manage one's existence barely)
cope with; match; meet (satisfy or fulfill)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Pass or move in front of
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Context example:
Bride's Biscuit got by the other dogs to win the race
Hypernyms (to "get by" is one way to...):
overhaul; overtake; pass (travel past)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Escape potentially unpleasant consequences; get away with a forbidden action
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
get away; escape; get by; get off; get out
Context examples:
She gets away with murder! / I couldn't get out from under these responsibilities
Hypernyms (to "get by" is one way to...):
avoid (stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get by"):
evade (use cunning or deceit to escape or avoid)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
