Phrase guide

get by

verb · 4 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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1

verb

Meaning 1

To subsist; to succeed, survive, or manage, at least at a minimal level.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • Do you think they can get by on only one salary?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: get along, make do, make ends meet

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

escape potentially unpleasant consequences; get away with a forbidden action

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She gets away with murder!
  • I couldn't get out from under these responsibilities

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: get off, get away, get out, escape

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: avoid

Narrower terms: evade

3

verb

Meaning 3

pass or move in front of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Bride's Biscuit got by the other dogs to win the race

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: pass, overtake, overhaul

4

verb

Meaning 4

come to terms with

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We got by on just a gallon of gas
  • They made do on half a loaf of bread every day

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cope, make out, make do, contend, grapple, deal, manage

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: act, move

Narrower terms: improvise, extemporize, fend, hack, cut, scrape along, scrape by, scratch along, squeak by, squeeze by, rub along, meet, match, cope with

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

44 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: campar — subsist
  • Chinese Mandarin: 湊合 /凑合 (còuhe) — subsist
  • Czech: vyjít — subsist
  • Czech: vystačit — subsist
  • Czech: vyžít — subsist
  • Dutch: rondkomen — subsist
  • Finnish: selviytyä — subsist
  • Finnish: tulla toimeen — subsist
  • Finnish: pysyä leivän syrjässä kiinni — subsist
  • French: tenir le coup — subsist
  • French: s'en sortir — subsist
  • French: se débrouiller — subsist
  • German: auskommen — subsist
  • German: durchkommen — subsist
  • German: zurechtkommen — subsist
  • German: klarkommen — subsist
  • Haitian Creole: pyange — subsist
  • Hungarian: megél — subsist
  • Italian: sbarcare il lunario — subsist
  • Italian: tirare avanti — subsist
  • Japanese: 遣り繰りする (yarikuri suru) — subsist
  • Japanese: 遣り繰り算段する (yarikuri-sandan suru) — subsist
  • Polish: radzić sobie — subsist
  • Polish: poradzić sobie — subsist
  • Portuguese: sobreviver — subsist
  • Russian: справля́ться (spravljátʹsja) — subsist
  • Russian: спра́виться (správitʹsja) — subsist
  • Spanish: arreglárselas — subsist
  • Spanish: ingeniárselas — subsist
  • Spanish: componérselas — subsist
  • Spanish: apañárselas — subsist
  • Spanish: apañarse — subsist
  • Spanish: rebuscársela — subsist
  • Spanish: conformarse — subsist
  • Spanish: bandearse — subsist
  • Spanish: ir tirando — subsist
  • Spanish: defenderse — subsist
  • Spanish: sobrenadar — subsist
  • Spanish: hacerse a las armas — subsist
  • Spanish: guarir — subsist
  • Swedish: klara sig — subsist
  • Turkish: geçinmek — subsist
  • Turkish: yaşamak — subsist
  • Vietnamese: xoay xở sống — subsist