Associations to the word «By»

Wiktionary

BY, preposition. Near or next to.
BY, preposition. At some time before (the given time), or before the end of a given time interval.
BY, preposition. Indicates the actor in a clause with its verb in the passive voice: Through the action or presence of.
BY, preposition. Indicates the creator of a work: Existing through the authorship etc. of.
BY, preposition. Indicates the cause of a condition or event: Through the action of, caused by, responsibility for; by dint of.
BY, preposition. Indicates a means: Involving/using the means of.
BY, preposition. Indicates a source of light: Medium emanating from hot sources.
BY, preposition. ​Indicates an authority, rule, or permission followed.
BY, preposition. Indicates the amount of some progression: With a change of.
BY, preposition. In the formulae X by X and by Xs, indicates a steady progression, one X after another.
BY, preposition. Indicates a referenced source: According to.
BY, preposition. Indicates an oath: With the authority of.
BY, preposition. Used to separate dimensions when describing the size of something.
BY, adverb. Along a path which runs by the speaker.
BY, adverb. In the vicinity, near.
BY, adverb. To or at a place, as a residence or place of business.
BY, adverb. Aside, away.
BY, adjective. Out of the way, subsidiary.
BY, noun. (card games) A pass
BY, interjection. Alternative spelling of bye
BY, symbol. The ISO 3166-1 two-letter (alpha-2) code for Belarus.
BY, symbol. Bavaria, a federal state of Germany.
BY A HAIR'S BREADTH, adverb. (idiomatic) By a narrow margin
BY A LONG CHALK, prepositional phrase. (UK) (informal) By far.
BY A LONG SHOT, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) (usually with a negative) By a wide margin; indicates a very big difference or disparity.
BY A WHISKER, adverb. By a very small distance
BY ACCIDENT, adverb. Accidentally; unintentionally; without meaning to; as the result of an event not expected, aided, or designed by one's will.
BY ACCIDENT, adverb. As the result of some undesigned, unintended, unrelated, natural, or random occurrence; as the unexpected and unforeseen result of formerly unrelated factors.
BY ACCIDENT, adverb. By chance; unexpectedly; as the result of an unrelated series of events.
BY ACCIDENT, adjective. Accidental; as the result of some unforeseen happening or series of events; unexpected; resulting from an event without the foresight, expectation, aid, or design of the person by whose agency it was caused; unintentional.
BY ALL ACCOUNTS, prepositional phrase. (literally) According to all available accounts or reports.
BY ALL ACCOUNTS, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) According to everything that people have said.
BY ALL MEANS, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) Emphatically yes; certainly; definitely.
BY AND BY, adverb. After a short time.
BY AND BY, adverb. After an indefinite period.
BY AND BY, adverb. (obsolete) Immediately; at once.
BY AND BY, noun. Heaven; the hereafter. Usually preceded with "the sweet."
BY AND BYE, adverb. Dated form of by and by.
BY AND LARGE, adverb. (set phrase) (focus) mostly, generally; with few exceptions
BY ANY CHANCE, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) possibly; perhaps
BY ANY MEANS, adverb. (idiomatic) in any manner whatsoever.
BY CHANCE, prepositional phrase. Accidental(ly) or unexpected(ly).
BY COMMITTEE, adverb. Through the collaborative efforts of multiple contributors, as a team or committee assigned to accomplish a goal; especially as known for protracted proceedings, a lack of responsiveness, or undesired results.
BY COMMITTEE, adverb. (figuratively) (sometimes humorous) With any of the results cynically attributed to committee projects, e.g. unnecessary complexity, inconsistency, logical flaws, lack of a unifying vision, banality, lack of style or character, etc.
BY DEFAULT, prepositional phrase. In absence of any opposing action.
BY DEFINITION, adverb. According to, or as a matter of, definition.
BY DEFINITION, adverb. Necessarily; always; certainly.
BY DEGREES, prepositional phrase. In gradual steps.
BY DINT OF, preposition. Because of.
BY DINT OF, preposition. By means of.
BY EAR, adverb. (chiefly music) Playing (an instrument) by following along with other musicians, without reference to sheet music.
BY FAR, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) To a considerably large extent, easily.
BY FOOT, adverb. Walking, jogging or running but not in a vehicle or on the back of an animal
BY GEORGE, adverb. (euphemistic) By God!: expressing wonderment, zeal.
BY GOD, adverb. Used as an oath to emphasis the veracity of an associated statement.
BY GOD, adverb. Used as an intensifier
BY GOD, interjection. Used as an exclamation of surprise.
BY GOLLY, interjection. (UK) (NZ) minced oath for by God.
BY GUESS OR BY GOD, adverb. Alternative form of by guess or by gosh
BY GUESS OR BY GOLLY, adverb. Alternative form of by guess or by gosh
BY GUESS OR BY GOSH, adverb. (idiomatic) at random
BY GUM, adverb. (UK) (NZ) minced oath for by God.
BY GUMMY, adverb. (euphemistic) (dated) By God!: expressing wonderment.
BY HALVES, adverb. (idiomatic) Partially, incompletely; inadequately, halfheartedly, shoddily.
BY HAND, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) Manually; without the use of automation or machines.
BY HAND, prepositional phrase. (of raising a child) Without suckling it.
BY HEART, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) Knowing completely; as having committed completely to memory.
BY HELL, interjection. (vulgar) Exclamation of shock or surprise.
BY HOOK OR BY CROOK, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) By any means possible; one way or another.
BY JINGO, interjection. Used to express determination or surprise. [From ca. 1878]
BY JOVE, interjection. (dated) (chiefly British) minced oath for by God, Jove referring to Jupiter.
BY LITTLE AND LITTLE, adverb. (dated) A small amount at a time; little by little.
BY MEANS OF, preposition. By using (a thing)
BY MISTAKE, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) by accident; without intention to do so
BY NO MEANS, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) certainly not; definitely not.
BY NOW, adverb. At some time in the near past
BY ONE'S LIGHTS, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) According to one's understanding.
BY ONE'S LONESOME, prepositional phrase. Alternative form of on one's lonesome
BY ONE'S OWN HAND, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) As a result of one's own actions, especially with reference to death by suicide.
BY ONESELF, prepositional phrase. Alone; without assistance or help from others.
BY ONESELF, prepositional phrase. Alone, without another's company
BY ONESELF, prepositional phrase. (rare) Used other than as an idiom: see by,‎ oneself.
BY OWNER, adverb. (of a sale or attempted sale, especially of real property) Without a real-estate agent or broker representing the seller.
BY RAIL, adverb. Via a train.
BY RIGHTS, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) Properly, in justice.
BY SAIL, adverb. Via a sailboat or sailing ship.
BY STEAM, adverb. Via a steam-powered boat or ship.
BY STEAM, adverb. Via a steam train.
BY THE BOOK, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) In a manner which adheres strictly to rules, legal requirements, or official procedures.
BY THE BY, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) used to introduce a new topic; incidentally
BY THE BYE, prepositional phrase. Alternative spelling of by the by
BY THE EARS, adverb. In a state of conflict; fighting, scuffling.
BY THE EYE, prepositional phrase. (obsolete) In abundance.
BY THE GRACE OF GOD, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) By divine right.
BY THE LOOKS OF THINGS, adverb. It appears; it seems; apparently.
BY THE NUMBERS, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) to do something exactly, precisely, or in a formulaic way.
BY THE ROOD, adverb. Used as an oath to emphasis the veracity of an associated statement.
BY THE SAME TOKEN, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) For a similar reason; in a similar manner; similarly; likewise; along the same lines.
BY THE SKIN OF ONE'S TEETH, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) barely; closely; by a narrow margin; with nothing to spare.
BY THE SLY, adverb. (dated) on the sly
BY THE WAY, prepositional phrase. (conjunctive) (speech act) (idiomatic) Incidentally; a parenthetical statement not timely, central, or crucial to the topic at hand; foregone, passed by, something that has already happened.
BY THE WAY, adverb. (UK) (idiomatic) Irrelevantly, off-topic.
BY TRADE, prepositional phrase. (idiomatic) As a profession; professionally.
BY TURNS, adverb. One after the other; successively; alternating.
BY TURNS, adverb. (obsolete) At intervals; from time to time.
BY VIRTUE OF, preposition. (idiomatic) because of; on the grounds of; by reason of; due to; based on
BY WALKING, adverb. Walking, jogging or running but not in a vehicle or on the back of an animal
BY WIRE, adverb. Sent on telegraph or telephone wires.
BY WIRE, adverb. (crime) Carried out by subordinates.
BY WIRE, adverb. Done with a remote control.
BY YOUR LEAVE, prepositional phrase. With your permission.
BY YOUR LEAVE, noun. Request for permission.
BY YOUR LEAVES, noun. Plural of by your leave

Dictionary definition

BY, adverb. So as to pass a given point; "every hour a train goes past".
BY, adverb. In reserve; not for immediate use; "started setting aside money to buy a car"; "put something by for her old age"; "has a nest egg tucked away for a rainy day".

Wise words

A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword.
Robert Burton