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Definitions

get by

VERB
manage, survive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cope get along get on prosper subsist thrive
WEAK
contrive do do well enough exist fare flourish make ends meet make out muddle through shift succeed
Antonyms
STRONGEST
fail lose

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Some have managed to get by catching crabs or other types of fish, while others have left the state.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

She eventually found a job at a charity and realised that the only way she could get by was to "do something good here", in Russia.

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

"Utility bills are suffocating us. Prices are crushing us. It's very hard to get by."

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026

To get by, they worked jobs washing dishes, delivering messages and moving furniture.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

A medicine person could get by without all these things.

From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko