By
/baɪ/
Definitions
2 meaningsNear, next to, at the side of; through the means of; as a result of; done by.
/baɪ/
Expressing proximity, agency, or means.
The cake was made by my sister.
💡 Simply: Near or because of.
More Examples
I went to the store by car.
He was surprised by the news.
How It's Used
"The book is by the window."
"The house was built by John."
"She travels by train."
Past; near; close to.
/baɪ/
Passing near, close to, or past.
The car drove by quickly.
💡 Simply: Going past something.
More Examples
She walked by and smiled.
How It's Used
"He walked by without noticing me."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Old English *bī, *bi, meaning "near, beside, at," related to Old High German bi, Old Norse við, and ultimately to Proto-Indo-European *bhi-.
The word 'by' has maintained a consistent usage across centuries, evolving from its Old English roots to modern English, showing versatility across different grammatical functions.
Memory tip
Think of 'being near' something.
Word Origin
"near, beside, at"