Definitions
How to pronounce by:
By - as an adverb
By - as a noun
A flying insect, of the clade anthophila within the hymenopteran superfamily apoidea, known for its organised societies (though only a minority have them), for collecting pollen and (in some species) producing wax and honey.
A contest, especially for spelling; see spelling bee.
Example: "Geography bee"
A community gathering to share labour, e.g. a sewing bee or a quilting bee.
A ring or torque; a bracelet.
The name of the latin-script letter b.
(usually in the plural) any of the pieces of hard wood bolted to the sides of the bowsprit, to reeve the fore-topmast stays through.
The position of a person or team in a tournament or competition who draws no opponent in a particular round so advances to the next round unopposed, or is awarded points for a win in a league table; also the phantom opponent of such a person or team.
Example: "Craig's crew plays the bye next week."
An extra scored when the batsmen take runs after the ball has passed the striker without hitting either the bat or the batsman.
A dwelling.
A thing not directly aimed at; something which is a secondary object of regard; an object by the way, etc.
A pass.
By - as an adjective
Out of the way, subsidiary.
By - as a preposition
Near or next to.
Example: "The mailbox is by the bus stop."
From one side of something to the other, passing close by; past.
Example: "He ran straight by me."
Not later than (the given time); not later than the end of (the given time interval).
Example: "Be back by ten o'clock!."
Indicates the person or thing that does or causes something: through the action or presence of.
Indicates the creator of a work: existing through the authorship etc. of.
Example: "There are many well-known plays by william shakespeare"
Indicates a means of achieving something: involving/using the means of.
Example: "By 'maybe' she means 'no'."
Indicates an authority according to which something is done.
Example: "By the power vested in me, i now pronounce you man and wife."
Indicates a means of classification or organisation.
Example: "I sorted the items by category."
Indicates the amount of change, difference or discrepancy
Example: "His date of birth was wrong by ten years."
In the formulae x by x and by xs, indicates a steady progression, one x after another.
Example: "We crawled forward by inches."
Indicates a referenced source: according to.
Example: "By my reckoning, we should be nearly there."
Used to separate dimensions when describing the size of something.
Example: "It is easy to invert a 2-by-2 matrix."
(horse breeding) designates a horse's male parent (sire); cf. out of.
Example: "She's a lovely little filly, by big lad, out of damsel in distress."
By - as an interjection
Goodbye.
Example Sentences
Word Game Points
BY has a SCRABBLE points total of 7.
BY has a WORDS WITH FRIENDS points total of 7.
BY has a WORDFEUD points total of 8.
