Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁épsder.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁épider.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi
Proto-Germanic *bi
Proto-West Germanic *bī
Old English bī
Middle English by
English by
From Middle English by, bi, from Old English bī (“by; near; around”), from Proto-West Germanic *bī, from Proto-Germanic *bi (“near; by; around; about”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁epi.
Cognate with West Frisian by (“by; near”), Afrikaans by (“at; by; near”), Saterland Frisian bie (“near; by”), Dutch bij (“near; by”), German Low German bi (“by; near; at”), German bei (“by; near; at”).
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁épsder.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁épider.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi
Proto-Germanic *bi
Proto-West Germanic *bī
Old English bī
Middle English by
English by
From Middle English by, bi, from Old English bī (“by; near; around”), from Proto-West Germanic *bī, from Proto-Germanic *bi (“near; by; around; about”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁epi.
Cognate with West Frisian by (“by; near”), Afrikaans by (“at; by; near”), Saterland Frisian bie (“near; by”), Dutch bij (“near; by”), German Low German bi (“by; near; at”), German bei (“by; near; at”).
Meanings
Near or next to.
The mailbox is by the bus stop.
From one side of something to the other, passing close by; past.
He ran straight by me.
The stream runs by our back door.
Not later than (the given time); not later than the end of (the given time interval); before.
We'll find someone by the end of March.
I'll have been cycling for longer than two hours by lunchtime.
Be back by ten o'clock!
After a given amount of time has elapsed or a given event has occurred.
By the time I realized I had left my phone at home, I was already two blocks from work.
By February, we were all sick of the cold.
By 29, my financial situation wasn’t just disorganized, it was untenable. 2026 April 22, Jillian Sanders, “The Danger of Surrendering Your Financial Independence in a Relationship”, in TIME, archived from the original on 22 Apr 2026:
Indicates the person or thing that does or causes something: Through the action or presence of. ▸ Following a passive verb.
Valencia threatened sporadically in the first half with Miguel having a decent effort deflected wide by Ashley Cole, while Jordi Alba's near-post cross was flicked into the sidenetting by Pablo Hernandez. 2011 September 28, Jon Smith, “Valencia 1-1 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 30 Jun 2022:
He was protected by his body armour.
The boat was swamped by the water.
The matter was decided by the chairman.
Indicates the person or thing that does or causes something: Through the action or presence of. ▸ Following a noun.
There was a call by the unions for a 30% pay rise.
(not in common modern use) Indicates the person or thing that does or causes something: Through the action or presence of. ▸ Following an adjective.
In other directions the fields and sky were so much of one colour by the snow that it was difficult in a hasty glance to tell whereabouts the horizon occurred […]. 1874, Thomas Hardy, Far from the Madding Crowd, 2005 Barnes & Noble Classics publication of 1912 Wessex edition, p.109
I was aghast by what I saw.
Nina is pregnant by a wishy-washy ACLU lawyer named Howard. 1986 February 15, Walta Borawski, “Objects of Affection: Gay Men & Straight Women”, in Gay Community News, volume 14, number 39, page B6:
Indicates the creator of a work: Existing through the authorship etc. of.
There are many well-known plays by William Shakespeare
Indicates a means of achieving something: Involving/using the means of.
Players: Can we get there by candlelight? ¶ Gatekeepers: Yes and back again. 1945, Neva L. Boyd, Handbook of Recreational Games, Dover, published 1975, →ISBN, page 16:
By 'maybe' she means 'no'.
We went by bus down to the water to feed the ducks.
By Pythagoras' theorem, we can calculate the length of the hypotenuse.
I avoided the guards by moving only when they weren't looking.
The electricity was cut off, so we had to read by candlelight.
"I don't want to spoil any comparison you are going to make," said Jim, "but I was at Winchester and New College." ¶ "That will do," said Mackenzie. "I was dragged up at the workhouse school till I was twelve. Then I ran away and sold papers in the streets, and anything else that I could pick up a few coppers by—except steal.[…]" 1909 September 9, Archibald Marshall [pseudonym; Arthur Hammond Marshall], chapter II, in The Squire’s Daughter, London: Methuen & Co. […], →OCLC:
I discovered it by chance.
You can only get there by water.
By the light of the moon, / by the light of a star / they walked all night 1960, Dr. Seuss, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish:
I'd know you anywhere by your gravelly voice.
Indicates an authority according to which something is done.
By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife.
I live by my own code of ethics.
Indicates an authority according to which something is done. ▸ Invokes an authority in an oath.
By all that is holy, I'll put an end to this.
By yonder moon I swear you do me wrong c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
'By my soul! I believe something bad has happened me,' he muttered, and popped up his window, and looked out, half dreaming over the church-yard on the park beyond […] 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard:
By Jove! I think she's got it!
Indicates a means of classification or organisation.
I sorted the items by category.
Table 1 shows details of our employees broken down by sex and age.
Indicates the amount of change, difference or discrepancy
Our stock is up by ten percent.
His date of birth was wrong by ten years.
We won by six goals to three.
In the formulae X by X and by Xs, indicates a steady progression, one X after another.
We went through the book page by page.
We crawled forward by inches.
[with the] Acted on in units of the specified size or measure. (Sometimes hyperbolically)
While sitting listening to the radio by the hour, she can drink brandy by the bucketful!
sold by the yard; cheaper if bought by the gross
He sits listening to the radio by the hour.
Per; with or in proportion to each.
His health was deteriorating by the day.
The pickers are paid by the fortnight by the American bushel.
Indicates a referenced source: According to.
Ignorant and ſuperſtitious wretches meaſure the actions of letterd and philoſophical men by the tattle of their nurſes or illiterate parents and companions, or by the faſhion of the country : and people of differing religions judge and condemn each other by their own tenents ; when both of them cannot be in the right, and it is well if either of them are. 1722, William Wollaston, “Sect. V. Truths relating to the Deity. Of his exiſtence, perfection, providence, &c.”, in The Religion of Nature Delineated, page 81:
He cheated by his own admission.
By my reckoning, we should be nearly there.
Used to separate dimensions when describing the size of something.
It is easy to invert a 2-by-2 matrix.
The room was about 4 foot by 6 foot.
The bricks used to build the wall measured 10 by 20 by 30 cm.
Multiplied by or (chiefly South Asia) divided by.
(qualifier:horse breeding) Designates a horse's sire (“male parent”).
She's a lovely little filly, by Big Lad, out of Damsel in Distress.
(qualifier:chiefly Yeshivish) At; with; among.
By Chabad, it's different.
Are you eating by Rabbi Fischer? (at the house of)
In a windward direction, sailing near to the direction from which the wind is blowing.
pam kalele naning... (near, or next to) · fr par (used to separate dimensions) · tr tarafından (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · fr à côté de (near, or next to) · th โดย (indicates creator of a work) · pt próximo (near, or next to) · pam bilang (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · de durch (indicates a means) · it per (indicating means of classification or organisation) · uk за допомогою (indicates a means) · kmr bi destê (indicates creator of a work) · ur ...سے (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · de um (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · fr par (with the authority of) · pam pangalele naning... (near, or next to) · ru по (indicating means of classification or organisation) · nl met (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · pam ...king lele naning... (near, or next to) · zh 給 /给 (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · ia a (indicates creator of a work) · da med (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · es por (indicates a means) · ms dengan (indicates a means) · no etter (indicating means of classification or organisation) · pam angga king... (not later than) · es por (used to separate dimensions) · fi kautta (with the authority of) · he לפי (indicating means of classification or organisation) · da af (indicates creator of a work) · sv med (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · zh 由 (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · pam keng (indicates steady progression) · kmr li rex (near, or next to) · fr au bord de (near, or next to) · pam ngana (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · sk od (indicates creator of a work) · sco bi (indicating means of classification or organisation) · is fyrir (not later than) · kmr li nêzî (near, or next to) · es por (near, or next to) · de ba (with the authority of) · sv innan (not later than) · fr par (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · bg от (indicates creator of a work) · pam ketang (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · sl do (not later than) · da efter (indicating means of classification or organisation) · pam ...king siping naning... (near, or next to) · mk од (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · ru на (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · ar جنب (near, or next to) · ar مِن قِبَل (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · it di (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · de von (indicates creator of a work) · sk po (indicates steady progression) · vi gần (near, or next to) · swb wangoni mwa (near, or next to) · vi bên cạnh (near, or next to) · lt prie (near, or next to) · sv efter (indicates steady progression) · fi kertaa (used to separate dimensions) · io da (indicates creator of a work) · id di sebelah ... (near, or next to) · ja …に (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · pam pangasiping naning... (near, or next to) · hu által (indicates a means) · cy wrth (near, or next to) · de ba (near, or next to) · pt de (indicates creator of a work) · af deur (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · sv vid ((indicates an oath) with the authority of) · vi theo cách (indicates a means) · sv efter (indicating means of classification or organisation) · pt a (indicates a means) · ja …に (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · mk до (not later than) · ga faoi (not later than) · mt bi (indicates creator of a work) · pl przez (indicates creator of a work) · kmr li tenişta (near, or next to) · bg от (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · kmr ji alî (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · yue ……之前 (not later than) · pam agpang naning (indicating means of classification or organisation) · ja 著… (with the authority of) · ar بِوَاسِطَّة (indicates creator of a work) · sv av (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · grc ῠ̔πό (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · hu -vel (indicates a means) · tr vasıtasıyla (indicates a means) · no med (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · pt por (indicates creator of a work) · es hecho por (indicates creator of a work) · it per (indicates steady progression) · no med (indicates a means) · hu révén (indicates a means) · dsb wó (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · he ב־ (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · ja …の側に (near, or next to) · pam bang (used to separate dimensions) · sl od (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · mi i te taha o (near, or next to) · it del (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · kmr bi (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · pam ngayu (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · ang þurh (indicates a means) · uk на (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · ro de către (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · is við (near, or next to) · fr de (indicates creator of a work) · hy առ (indicates steady progression) · id kena (indicates a means) · fr par (indicates a means) · kmr bi (indicates steady progression) · hu -re (not later than) · nl per (indicates a means) · nl tegen (not later than) · io apud (near, or next to) · nl door (indicates creator of a work) · la ab (indicates creator of a work) · mt bi (indicates a means) · da af (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · hu -tól (indicates creator of a work) · ar حوالي (not later than) · ar بِـ (indicates a means) · es acorde a (indicating means of classification or organisation) · sk za (indicates steady progression) · cs za (indicates steady progression) · vi theo (indicating means of classification or organisation) · zh 讓 /让 (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · zdj ha (indicates a means) · gl so (near, or next to) · eo far (indicates creator of a work) · de mit (indicates a means) · hu -ra ((indicates an oath) with the authority of) · hu alapján (with the authority of) · ar بـ (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · vo a (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · no innen (not later than) · pt por (with the authority of) · ar جنب (near, or next to) · fy troch (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · pam agpang king (indicating means of classification or organisation) · de bei (with the authority of) · gl por (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · fr par (indicates steady progression) · pam agpang (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · ro cu (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · es por (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · haw hiʻialo (near, or next to) · sl za (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · el από (indicates a means) · eo antaŭ (not later than) · hu -ig (not later than) · lv pa (indicates a means) · vi bởi (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · got 𐌸𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌷 (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · la ab (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · pl przez (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · ro pe ((indicates an oath) with the authority of) · kmr li kêleka (near, or next to) · la per (indicates a means) · no for (indicates steady progression) · ar فِي (not later than) · nl per (indicates steady progression) · cs u (near, or next to) · ja …により (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · pam ...a (indicates creator of a work) · eo de (indicates creator of a work) · hu -val (indicates a means) · no etter (indicates steady progression) · es para (not later than) · sv vid (with the authority of) · bg край (near, or next to) · it entro (not later than) · cs o (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · ja …により (indicates a means) · pam king (indicates steady progression) · fr avant (not later than) · sv av (indicates creator of a work) · hu által (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · ru от и́мени (with the authority of) · ko ...로서 (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · egy i-n (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · it vicino (near, or next to) · ja 作… (indicates creator of a work) · pam ngara (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · pt por (indicating means of classification or organisation) · pam bakanitang... (used to separate dimensions) · ur تک (not later than) · vi bên (near, or next to) · vi bằng cách (indicates a means) · tk tarapyndan (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · hu -től (indicates creator of a work) · ro după (indicating means of classification or organisation) · la cata (indicating means of classification or organisation) · uz tomonidan (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · nl door (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · ar بِـ (with the authority of) · th โดย (indicates a means) · he על ידי (indicates a means) · it da (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · mk од (indicates creator of a work) · eo per (indicates a means) · es por (indicates steady progression) · aii ܒܝܲܕ (indicates creator of a work) · ko ...로써 (indicates a means) · af deur (indicates creator of a work) · ro cu (indicates a means) · kmr bi (indicates a means) · ca per (indicates creator of a work) · zh 在……旁 (near, or next to) · th เคียง (near, or next to) · uk до (not later than) · ro de (indicates creator of a work) · zh 用… (indicates a means) · pam uling king... (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · sk podľa (indicating means of classification or organisation) · mi i (near, or next to) · ro înainte de (not later than) · eo apud (near, or next to) · he באמצעות (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · pam balang (indicates steady progression) · fy troch (indicates creator of a work) · kmr ji aliyê ... ve (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · dsb pla (near, or next to) · pam ...ken (indicates a means) · pl przy (near, or next to) · ko ...에 따라 (indicating means of classification or organisation) · fi -lla (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · ro cu (indicates steady progression) · gd le (indicates creator of a work) · it tramite (indicates a means) · es por (indicating means of classification or organisation) · uk по (indicating means of classification or organisation) · de indem (indicates a means) · pam gamit ning... (indicates a means) · hu mig- (with the authority of) · mk до (near, or next to) · ms di sebelah (near, or next to) · la aput (near, or next to) · hu -nként (indicates steady progression) · pam gaua nang... (indicates creator of a work) · kk қасында (near, or next to) · la ab (indicates a means) · tr tarafindan (indicates creator of a work) · pl obok (near, or next to) · hu -szer (used to separate dimensions) · nl op (indicates a means) · de von (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · ru у (near, or next to) · hy կողքին (near, or next to) · zdj ni (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · pl według (indicating means of classification or organisation) · sq afer (near, or next to) · ja …までに (not later than) · sk do (not later than) · it per mezzo di (indicates a means) · grc νή (with the authority of) · es por (indicates creator of a work) · zh ……之前 (not later than) · hu -re ((indicates an oath) with the authority of) · cs od (indicates creator of a work) · pam anggang (not later than) · ro lângă (near, or next to) · ko ...까지 (not later than) · pam ning... (indicates creator of a work) · el μα (with the authority of) · ru за (indicates steady progression) · ko 옆에 (near, or next to) · ko ...로 (indicating means of classification or organisation) · es ante (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · fr près de (near, or next to) · pam king (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · hu -ra (not later than) · ar بِجَانِب (near, or next to) · vi kề (near, or next to) · ro pe (used to separate dimensions) · bg до (near, or next to) · fi mennessä (not later than) · ja …の側で (near, or next to) · ar لِـ (indicates creator of a work) · ms oleh (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · cs pomocí (indicates a means) · sk pri (near, or next to) · ang be (near, or next to) · es de acuerdo a (indicating means of classification or organisation) · nl door (indicates a means) · az vasitəsilə (indicates a means) · ko ...로 (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · pam angga (not later than) · nl bij (used to separate dimensions) · de mittels (indicates a means) · fr au moyen de (indicates a means) · cs podle (indicating means of classification or organisation) · pt perto (near, or next to) · pl na (with the authority of) · mi nā (indicates creator of a work) · da ved (indicates a means) · de bei (near, or next to) · ang þurh ((indicates an oath) with the authority of) · pam ibat king... (indicates a means) · ru во и́мя (with the authority of) · fa تا (not later than) · tl ng (indicates creator of a work) · ro până (not later than) · io per (indicates a means) · zh 被 (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · tl nina (indicates creator of a work) · vi theo như (indicating means of classification or organisation) · fi vieressä (near, or next to) · kmr li (near, or next to) · it mediante (indicates a means) · vi cạnh (near, or next to) · es por parte de (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · la a (indicates creator of a work) · hu -val (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · sw na (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · kk жанында (near, or next to) · hi ...से (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · af deur (indicates a means) · sl z (indicates a means) · pam gamit ing (with the authority of) · ms menjelang (not later than) · pam gamit naning... (indicates a means) · af teen (not later than) · kmr heta (not later than) · ru к (not later than) · hu -vel (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · hi तक (not later than) · ca per (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · eo de (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · nl bij (near, or next to) · no ved (indicates creator of a work) · es frente a (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · gl cabo (near, or next to) · hu szerint (indicating means of classification or organisation) · pam papunta king... (with the authority of) · ang fram (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · th ติดกับ (near, or next to) · ru о́коло (near, or next to) · ms oleh (indicates creator of a work) · it ravvicinato (near, or next to) · ja …に従って (indicating means of classification or organisation) · cs do (not later than) · it accanto (near, or next to) · kmr ta (not later than) · he עד (near, or next to) · hu -ször (used to separate dimensions) · hu meg- (with the authority of) · tl ni (indicates creator of a work) · vi tuân theo (indicating means of classification or organisation) · dsb pśi (near, or next to) · no ved (with the authority of) · th โดย (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · de mal (used to separate dimensions) · no av (indicates creator of a work) · ar من (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · sl po (indicating means of classification or organisation) · sv genom att (indicates a means) · it di (indicates creator of a work) · ko ...로 (indicates a means) · fi kautta ((indicates an oath) with the authority of) · pam pauli ning... (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · mi nā (with the authority of) · fr en (indicates a means) · ms demi (indicates steady progression) · ko 곁에 (near, or next to) · cy erbyn (not later than) · haw kokoke (near, or next to) · zh 叫 (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · pt até (not later than) · de neben (near, or next to) · ja …によって (indicates a means) · ca al costat (near, or next to) · ang be (not later than) · eo de (with the authority of) · da efter (indicates steady progression) · pam gamit ing (indicates a means) · it di (indicates steady progression) · de durch (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · pl o (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · ang of (indicates creator of a work) · sk o (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · vi của (indicates creator of a work) · cs prostřednictvím (indicates a means) · ar عِنْدَ (not later than) · mi ki (indicates a means) · es según (indicating means of classification or organisation) · de auf (used to separate dimensions) · ba янында (near, or next to) · pl po (indicates steady progression) · ca proïsme (near, or next to) · hu -szor (used to separate dimensions) · ja …作 (indicates creator of a work) · ms per (indicates steady progression) · mk кај (near, or next to) · pam kasiping naning... (near, or next to) · el διά (indicates a means) · pt por (indicates a means) · kmr li dû (indicating means of classification or organisation) · ko ...에 의해 (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · it da (indicates creator of a work) · bg до (not later than) · da ved (near, or next to) · pam agpang kang (indicating means of classification or organisation) · fr par (indicates creator of a work) · sl od (indicates creator of a work) · ru до (not later than) · he מאת (indicates creator of a work) · da inden (not later than) · hi जानिब (near, or next to) · mi nā (indicates a means) · cs po (indicates steady progression) · ms mengikut (indicating means of classification or organisation) · ko ...의 (indicates creator of a work) · tr tamanından (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · yi לויט (indicating means of classification or organisation) · ca per a (not later than) · el από (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · vi trước (with the authority of) · no ved (near, or next to) · mt bi (not later than) · it dal (indicating means of classification or organisation) · pam bilang (indicates a means) · pt por (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · it per (with the authority of) · de um (indicates steady progression) · it con (indicates a means) · sv vid (near, or next to) · sv intill (near, or next to) · pam uli naning... (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · fi mukaisesti (indicating means of classification or organisation) · hu szerint (with the authority of) · kmr li gor (indicating means of classification or organisation) · kmr ji alî (indicates creator of a work) · pam gaua dareng... (indicates creator of a work) · de bis (not later than) · nl vanwege (indicates creator of a work) · ru ря́дом с (near, or next to) · id oleh (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · th ข้าง (near, or next to) · es cerca de (near, or next to) · hy մոտ (near, or next to) · he עד (not later than) · zh 由… (indicates a means) · af by (near, or next to) · ja …によって (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · ia ab (indicates creator of a work) · pl na (used to separate dimensions) · sl pri (near, or next to) · da ved at (indicates a means) · cy â (indicates a means) · is eftir (indicates creator of a work) · fi mukaan (indicating means of classification or organisation) · sl s (indicates a means) · he עַל (used to separate dimensions) · eo laŭ (indicating means of classification or organisation) · uk за (indicates steady progression) · pt em (indicating amount of change, difference or discrepancy) · pl za (indicates steady progression) · ro de (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · pam nang... (indicates creator of a work) · ja …で (indicates a means) · ko …에 (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · ko ...로써 (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · cy gan (indicates creator of a work) · de nach (indicating means of classification or organisation) · la apud (near, or next to) · cy gan (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · ja …著 (with the authority of) · hu útján (indicates a means) · he על ידי (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · la a (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · az tərəfindən (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · no av (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · ar بِوَاسِطَّة (indicates the agent of a passive verb) · pl do (not later than) · pt por (indicates steady progression)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁épsder.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁épider.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi
Proto-Germanic *bi
Proto-West Germanic *bī
Old English bī
Middle English by
English by
From Middle English by, bi, from Old English bī (“by; near; around”), from Proto-West Germanic *bī, from Proto-Germanic *bi (“near; by; around; about”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁epi.
Cognate with West Frisian by (“by; near”), Afrikaans by (“at; by; near”), Saterland Frisian bie (“near; by”), Dutch bij (“near; by”), German Low German bi (“by; near; at”), German bei (“by; near; at”).
Meanings
(not-comparable) Along a path which runs past someone or something.
I watched the parade as it passed by.
(not-comparable) In the vicinity, near.
[The helmsman] steered with no end of a swagger while you were by; but if he lost sight of you, he became instantly the prey of an abject funk […] 1899 March, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number MI, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part II:
There was a shepherd close by.
(not-comparable) To or at a place, as a residence or place of business.
We're right near the lifeguard station. Come by before you leave.
I'll stop by on my way home from work.
(not-comparable, qualifier:uncommon outside the phrase 'put by') Aside, away.
The women spent much time after harvest putting jams by for winter and spring.
(not-comparable, qualifier:uncommon except in set phrases) Beyond or past a certain point.
I'll somehow manage to get by.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
bye
alternative
lexicographic
Deriveds
outbye (terms derived from by (adverb)) · stop by (terms derived from by (adverb)) · put by (terms derived from by (adverb)) · passer-by (terms derived from by (adverb)) · bypoll (terms derived from by (adverb)) · sailby (terms derived from by (adverb)) · forthby (terms derived from by (adverb)) · bygone (terms derived from by (adverb)) · byline (terms derived from by (adverb)) · nearby (terms derived from by (adverb)) · bystanding (terms derived from by (adverb)) · betime (terms derived from by (adverb)) · closeby (terms derived from by (adverb)) · flyby (terms derived from by (adverb)) · beway (terms derived from by (adverb)) · bypass (terms derived from by (adverb)) · loteby (terms derived from by (adverb)) · hereby (terms derived from by (adverb)) · bycause (terms derived from by (adverb)) · passerby (terms derived from by (adverb)) · by foot (terms derived from by (adverb)) · drop by (terms derived from by (adverb)) · right by (terms derived from by (adverb)) · byrlady (terms derived from by (adverb)) · full and by (terms derived from by (adverb)) · Bywater (terms derived from by (adverb)) · thereby (terms derived from by (adverb)) · whereby (terms derived from by (adverb)) · hushaby (terms derived from by (adverb)) · swingby (terms derived from by (adverb)) · stand by (terms derived from by (adverb)) · by the by (terms derived from by (adverb)) · sail-by (terms derived from by (adverb)) · play-by-play (terms derived from by (adverb)) · sail-by salute (terms derived from by (adverb)) · hang-by (terms derived from by (adverb))
Translations (17)
uk повз (along a path) · es por (along a path) · ja 道に沿って (along a path) · sv längs med (along a path) · pt por nós (along a path) · sv längs (along a path) · fi ohi (along a path) · vi qua (along a path) · da forbi (along a path) · de längs (along a path) · pt por mim (along a path) · kmr tê re (along a path) · gd seachad (along a path) · ms di sepanjang (along a path) · nl langs (along a path) · sk okolo (along a path) · kmr di ber re (along a path)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁épsder.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁épider.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi
Proto-Germanic *bi
Proto-West Germanic *bī
Old English bī
Middle English by
English by
From Middle English by, bi, from Old English bī (“by; near; around”), from Proto-West Germanic *bī, from Proto-Germanic *bi (“near; by; around; about”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁epi.
Cognate with West Frisian by (“by; near”), Afrikaans by (“at; by; near”), Saterland Frisian bie (“near; by”), Dutch bij (“near; by”), German Low German bi (“by; near; at”), German bei (“by; near; at”).
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁épsder.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁épider.
Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi
Proto-Germanic *bi
Proto-West Germanic *bī
Old English bī
Middle English by
English by
From Middle English by, bi, from Old English bī (“by; near; around”), from Proto-West Germanic *bī, from Proto-Germanic *bi (“near; by; around; about”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁epi.
Cognate with West Frisian by (“by; near”), Afrikaans by (“at; by; near”), Saterland Frisian bie (“near; by”), Dutch bij (“near; by”), German Low German bi (“by; near; at”), German bei (“by; near; at”).