Phrase guide

by and by

adv · noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adv

Meaning 1

After a short time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • a. 1822, Percy Bysshe Shelley "On the Symposium, or Preface to the Banquet of Plato" "You are laughing at me, Socrates," said Agathon, "but you and I will decide this controversy about wisdom by and by, taking Bacchus for our judge. At present turn to your supper."

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

After an indefinite period.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • Sit down, have a rest, and by and by you'll be feeling better.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adv

Meaning 3

Immediately; at once.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable, obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Heaven; the hereafter. Usually preceded with "the sweet."

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • I'm sorry ma'am, but your cat's gone on to the sweet by and by.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adverb

Meaning 5

at some eventual time in the future

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • By and by he'll understand
  • I'll see you later

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: later

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English by and by (“side by side, close together, alongside, on and on, continually, again and again, repeatedly”), equivalent to by + and + by.

Across languages

Translations

20 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Cherokee: ᎤᏩᎫᏗᏗᏒ (uwagudidisv) — at an indefinite time in the future
  • Irish: ar ball — at an indefinite time in the future
  • Māori: taihoa — at an indefinite time in the future
  • Māori: taihoa ake — at an indefinite time in the future
  • Māori: taro kau iho — at an indefinite time in the future
  • Māori: tāria te wā — at an indefinite time in the future
  • Māori: taro ake — at an indefinite time in the future
  • Māori: tāria — at an indefinite time in the future
  • Māori: tāia — at an indefinite time in the future
  • Māori: tākaro — at an indefinite time in the future
  • Navajo: hodíinaʼgo — at an indefinite time in the future
  • Russian: со временем (so vremenem) — at an indefinite time in the future
  • Russian: постепе́нно (postepénno) — at an indefinite time in the future
  • Russian: впоследствии (vposledstvii) — at an indefinite time in the future
  • Turkish: zamanla — at an indefinite time in the future
  • Woiwurrung: muluku — at an indefinite time in the future
  • Woiwurrung: paRa-paRa — at an indefinite time in the future
  • Russian: мир ино́й (mir inój) — heaven; the hereafter
  • Russian: тот свет (tot svet) — heaven; the hereafter
  • Turkish: öbür dünya — heaven; the hereafter