Definition of "by"

by

/baɪ/

preposition
1. Near or next to.
2. From one side of something to the other, passing close by; past.
3. Not later than (the given time); not later than the end of (the given time interval).
4. Indicates the person or thing that does or causes something: Through the action or presence of.
  1. Following a passive verb.
    Quotations
    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
  2. Following a noun.
  3. (not in common modern use) Following an adjective.
    Quotations
    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
5. Indicates the creator of a work: Existing through the authorship etc. of.
6. Indicates a means of achieving something: Involving/using the means of.
  Quotations
  "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, Archibald Marshall [pseudonym; Arthur Hammond Marshall], chapter II, in The Squire’s Daughter, New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead and Company, published 1919
  Players: Can we get there by candlelight? ¶ Gatekeepers: Yes and back again.
  1945, Neva L. Boyd, Handbook of Recreational Games, Dover, published 1975, page 16
  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
7. Indicates an authority according to which something is done.
  1. Invokes an authority in an oath.
    Quotations
    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, [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
8. Indicates a means of classification or organisation.
9. Indicates the amount of change, difference or discrepancy
10. In the formulae X by X and by Xs, indicates a steady progression, one X after another.
11. (with the) Acted on in units of the specified size or measure. (Sometimes hyperbolically)
12. per; with or in proportion to each.
13. Indicates a referenced source: According to.
  Quotations
  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
14. Used to separate dimensions when describing the size of something.
15. (horse breeding) Designates a horse's male parent (sire); cf. out of.
adverb
not comparable
1. Along a path which runs past the speaker.
2. In the vicinity, near.
  Quotations
  [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, […], part II
3. To or at a place, as a residence or place of business.
4. (uncommon) aside, away
adjective
not comparable
1. Out of the way, off to one side.
2. Subsidiary, incidental.
noun
plural bys
1. Alternative form of bye.
interjection
1. Dated form of bye (“goodbye”).