near to or next to

a home by a lake.

over the surface of, through the medium of, along, or using as a route

He came by the highway. She arrived by air.

on, as a means of conveyance

They arrived by ship.

to and beyond the vicinity of; past

He went by the church.

within the extent or period of; during

by day; by night.

not later than; at or before

I usually finish work by five o'clock.

to the extent or amount of

The new tug is larger than the old one by a great deal. He's taller than his sister by three inches.

from the opinion, evidence, or authority of

By his own account he was in Chicago at the time. I know him by sight.

according to; in conformity with

This is a bad movie by any standards.

with (something) at stake; on

to swear by all that is sacred.

through the agency, efficacy, work, participation, or authority of

The book was published by Random House.

from the hand, mind, invention, or creativity of

She read a poem by Emily Dickinson. The phonograph was invented by Thomas Edison.

in consequence, as a result, or on the basis of

We met by chance. We won the game by forfeit.

accompanied with or in the atmosphere of

Lovers walk by moonlight.

in treatment or support of; for

He did well by his children.

after; next after, as of the same items in a series

piece by piece; little by little.

(in multiplication) taken the number of times as that specified by the second number, or multiplier

Multiply 18 by 57.

(in measuring shapes) having an adjoining side of, as a width relative to a length

a room 10 feet by 12 feet.

(in division) separated into the number of equal parts as that specified by the second number, or divisor

Divide 99 by 33.

in terms or amounts of; in measuring units of

Apples are sold by the bushel. I'm paid by the week.

begot or born of

Eve had two sons by Adam.

(of quadrupeds) having as a sire

Equipoise II by Equipoise.

Navigation . (as used in the names of the 16 smallest points on the compass) one point toward the east, west, north, or south of N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, or NW, respectively

He sailed NE by N from Pago Pago.

into, at, or to

Come by my office this afternoon.

near; in the immediate vicinity; at hand

The school is close by.

to and beyond a point near something; past

The car drove by.

aside; away

Put your work by for the moment. Over the years, she laid by enough money to retire.

over; past

in times gone by.

by me,

(in bridge and other bidding card games) a declaration that the speaker is passing.

(in poker) a declaration that the speaker is checking

Is my pair of tens still high? By me.

situated to one side

They came down a by passage.

secondary, incidental

It was only a by comment.

bye 1 . ?

by and by

in a short time; before long; presently

The clouds will disappear by and by.

by and large

in general; on the whole

By and large, there is much to be said for the new system.

by the by. bye 1 ( def. 6 ) .

adverb

aside , at hand , away , beyond , close , handy , in reach , over , past , through , to one side

preposition

along , alongside , beside , by way of , close to , near , nearby , nigh , over , past , round , at the hand of , in the name of , on , supported by , through , through the agency of , through the medium of , under the aegis of , via , with , with the assistance of , apart , aside , besides , close , concerning , handy , near to , per , toward