by in English
- by⇄adj. 1. situated at the side; out of the way.
2. away from the main purpose; secondary; private. - by⇄adv. 1. at hand.
Ex. near by.
2. past.
Ex. Julius Caesar lived in days gone by. A car raced by.
3. aside or away.
Ex. She put money by every week to save for a new sewing machine.
4. (Informal.) at, in, or into anot - by⇄by, preposition, adverb, adjective, noun.
- by⇄expr. by and by, after a while; before long; soon; shortly.
Ex. Summer vacation will come by and by. - by⇄expr. by and large,
a. for the most part; on the whole.
Ex. By and large it is a good book.
b. (Nautical.) to the wind and off it.
Ex. They soon find out one another's rate of sailing, by and large (Fraser's Magazine). - by⇄expr. by the by, by the way; incidentally.
Ex. By the by, here is the pen you lent me. - by⇄expr. by the way. See under way.
- by⇄noun bye.
- by⇄prep. 1a. at the side or edge of; near; beside.
Ex. a town by a river. The garden is by the house. Sit by me.
b. beyond; past.
Ex. He walked by the church. She ran right by him.
2. along; over; through.
Ex. He went by the m
by in Sindhi سنڌي
by
Part of Speech
Preposition, Adverb
Pronunciation
/baɪ/
Definitions
- by (preposition): Indicating the agent performing an action in passive constructions. Example: "The letter was written by John."
- by (preposition): Indicating the means or method of doing something. Example: "She traveled by train."
- by (preposition): Indicating proximity or position. Example: "The house is located by the river."
- by (preposition): Indicating a deadline or time frame. Example: "The task must be finished by Friday."
- by (adverb): In close proximity or in the process of passing. Example: "She walked by without saying anything."
Usage Examples
- She was given a gift by her friend.
- The project was completed by the end of the month.
- He walked by me without noticing.
- They traveled by car to the beach.
Etymology
The word "by" originates from Old English "bi," a variant of "be," which was used as a preposition to express proximity or the agent performing an action. Over time, its usage extended to denote means, methods, or time-related aspects. It has remained in use as a preposition and adverb through the evolution of the English language, adapting to various grammatical structures.
Synonyms
- Through
- Via
- Alongside
- Next to
- With
Antonyms
- Against
- Away from
- Without
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| English | by | /baɪ/ |
| Spanish | por | /pɔr/ |
| French | par | /paʁ/ |
| German | von | /fɔn/ |
| Italian | da | /da/ |
| Chinese | 由 (yóu) | /joʊ/ |
| Japanese | によって (ni yotte) | /ni joʊtːe/ |
| Russian | от (ot) | /ɔt/ |
| Hindi | के द्वारा (ke dvāra) | /keː d̪ʋaːraː/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
- In some dialects of British English, "by" may be pronounced with a slightly longer "i" sound, sounding more like /baɪː/.
- In certain regions, particularly in rural or informal speech, the "y" sound may be softened or omitted in rapid speech, making it sound more like "buh" (/bə/).
Historical Usage
In its earliest usage, the word "by" was used to indicate proximity, a sense that persists in modern English. It has evolved over centuries to cover a broader range of meanings, especially as English grammar and syntax became more complex. In literature, "by" was used to express action performed by a particular person (the agent), and it became indispensable in constructing passive sentences. Over time, it was extended to other contexts, such as expressing methods and time frames, becoming one of the most versatile prepositions in English.
Cultural Nuances
In different cultures, the word "by" carries varying connotations, especially in terms of social structure and communication. In English-speaking cultures, "by" is used to denote proximity or agency, often in contexts where action or movement is central. For instance, in expressions like "by the way" or "by all means," it serves to introduce new topics or give emphasis. The versatility of "by" across different types of sentences highlights its adaptability in modern English usage.
More Information
The word "by" is one of the most commonly used prepositions in the English language, with a wide array of uses in both spoken and written contexts. Its usage can express the agent of an action, the means or method of doing something, proximity, or time limits. While it is most frequently used as a preposition, it also appears as an adverb in certain phrases, such as "by now" or "by and large." Understanding its multiple meanings and contexts is essential for mastering English syntax and usage.