as in to cope
to meet one's day-to-day needs
working at night paid my college tuition and enabled me to get by—but just barely
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Recent Examples of get by
The Big East champion Huskies (35-18) move into the losers’ bracket in the double-elimination regional and have the misfortune of now having to get by top seed LSU on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in an elimination game.
—
Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2025
President Trump has faced backlash in recent days for saying children can get by with fewer dolls this year if his sweeping tariff policies drive up living costs for families.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 6 May 2025
To get by in most states, the MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates the average single person needs to make about $45,000 a year, or $21.63 an hour assuming a 40-hour work week.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 2 May 2025
If these cuts move forward, many more Texans will face hunger, and the most vulnerable among us—children, seniors, veterans, and working families just trying to get by—will bear the brunt of this hardship.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for get by
Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2025
President Trump has faced backlash in recent days for saying children can get by with fewer dolls this year if his sweeping tariff policies drive up living costs for families.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 6 May 2025
To get by in most states, the MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates the average single person needs to make about $45,000 a year, or $21.63 an hour assuming a 40-hour work week.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 2 May 2025
If these cuts move forward, many more Texans will face hunger, and the most vulnerable among us—children, seniors, veterans, and working families just trying to get by—will bear the brunt of this hardship.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for get by
Recent Examples of Synonyms for get by
Verb
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Humor alleviates stress, and serves as a valuable coping mechanism, helping individuals to reframe challenges & foster resilience.—
Anjali Chaudhry,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
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Simone goes nonverbal and enters a sort of fugue state to cope.—
Claire Franken,
TVLine,
24 May 2025
Verb
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If sinister twists or Roy-style bad dads do it for you, hang on past the hour mark.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
23 May 2025
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No world leader did more to help normalize and enable Trump early on than the late Abe.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Her husband was probably the 5th to last person to get on the plane.—
Darlin Tillery,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
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Once Devon and Bruce get on the ferry, who should embark behind them but Michaela?—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
Verb
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By contrast, just 55 percent of parents who didn't get along with their ex said their children had adjusted well to the change.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
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Cosplaying and fandom also provide common ground that gives participants a space to communicate and get along no matter their background.—
Sean Clancy,
Arkansas Online,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Russell tried to console Elissa and somehow managed to keep himself composed, holding up both of them through the disappointment.—
Kristen Jordan Shamus,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
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In 1914, thieves managed to dislodge one of the bronze children and carry it 150 feet before abandoning the 300-pound figure.—
Michael Wells,
Kansas City Star,
18 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Get by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/get%20by. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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