By Meaning
By Definition & Usage
Indicates proximity or movement close to something.
Examples
- "I walked by the river this morning."
- "The shop is right by the station."
- "She lives by the beach."
- "We passed by his house yesterday."
- "The car stopped right by the curb."
Indicates the agent performing an action in passive constructions.
Examples
- "The book was written by J.K. Rowling."
- "The movie was directed by Steven Spielberg."
- "The cake was made by my grandmother."
- "The song was sung by a famous choir."
- "The letter was delivered by hand."
Indicates the means or method of doing something.
Examples
- "He traveled by plane to Paris."
- "She communicated with him by email."
- "The goods were delivered by truck."
- "You can pay by credit card."
- "He solved the puzzle by guessing the answer."
Indicates passing or moving close to something.
Examples
- "She walked by without saying a word."
- "He drove by without noticing us."
- "The train zoomed by at top speed."
- "I waved as they drove by."
- "The cat darted by me in a flash."
Indicates a specific time or deadline.
Examples
- "I need to finish this report by Monday."
- "The project is due by the end of the week."
- "We should be there by noon."
- "The assignment must be completed by Friday."
- "You need to submit your application by next month."
Used in some expressions related to standards or completion.
Examples
- "The book was praised by critics for its clarity."
- "He is known for being a man of his word by all who know him."
- "The team worked hard, and it paid off by winning the championship."
- "She passed the test by the skin of her teeth."
- "We got there just by the time the event started."
Cultural Context
The word 'by' originates from Old English 'bi' or 'bý', meaning 'beside' or 'near'. Over centuries, its usage has expanded into various roles in modern English, particularly as a preposition indicating location, time, method, or agency. It is one of the most versatile words in the English language, appearing frequently in both formal and informal contexts.
The Journey By the River
Story
The Journey By the River
Emma had always been fascinated by the way the river flowed through her small town. One day, as she was walking by its banks, she noticed a small boat drifting slowly, its sails billowing in the wind. She walked by the river every morning, but today felt different, as if the river had a secret to share. As she continued her walk, she overheard a conversation between two fishermen talking about the boat. 'It was built by hand, you know,' one said. 'And it took weeks to finish.' Emma, intrigued by this story, decided to follow the boat's trail. She traveled by foot for miles, passing by the hills, and at the edge of the river, she found the most incredible sight—an old man sitting by the water, painting the view. He explained that he had been painting this river for over fifty years, and each day he found something new by the water's edge. Emma asked if she could join him, and they spent the afternoon painting together. By the time she left, the sun was setting, and she had learned more about the river than she could ever have imagined. The day had passed by quickly, and as she returned home, she realized that she would never walk by the river in the same way again.
Related Words
