get by
Third Person
gets by
Present Participle
getting by
Past Tense
got by
Past Participle
gotten by
1
to be capable of living or doing something using the available resources, knowledge, money, etc.
- He didn't know the local language, but he could get by using basic phrases and gestures.
- Despite the financial challenges, they managed to get by on a modest income.
- They had to get by on a tight budget while they were between jobs.
- After moving to a new country, he had to learn the local customs to get by in the community.
- In the wilderness, you learn to get by with limited supplies and survival skills.
2
to escape notice or punishment
- In the undercover operation, the agent aimed to get by without arousing suspicion.
- She tried to get by without anyone noticing her late arrival at the meeting.
- The student attempted to get by without being accountable for plagiarism.
- During the audit, the company aimed to get by without penalties for minor accounting errors.
3
to move past an obstacle or challenge
transitive
- To reach the hidden treasure, they had to get by the dense jungle and various traps.
- The hikers needed to get by the fast-flowing river to continue their trek.
- He had to get by the construction site to reach the store.
- They had to get by the security checkpoint to access the restricted area.
4
to move past someone or something without being noticed
transitive
- He slyly helped his friend to get by the security guard.
- The stray cat tried to get by the sleeping dog without any disturbance.
- In the stealth mission, the spy's expertise was crucial in helping the group get by the enemy patrols.
- The distraction allowed the team to get by the security cameras.
- While I engage in conversation with the store manager, you can get by him and grab what we need.
5
to do well enough to avoid failure by meeting the basic requirements
- He managed to get by in the exam by answering the minimum required questions.
- Despite minimal preparation, she was able to get by in the presentation by covering the essential points.
- He struggled with the subject but somehow managed to get by with a passing grade.
- Although the project was challenging, they aimed to get by and meet the basic requirements.