Lernwerd

by

//baɪ//

Adverb

A word that modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb, or a clause.

Preposition

A word placed before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show its relationship to another part of the sentence.

Note for by

Mnemonics, your own examples, reminders…

Definitions

Adverb

A word that modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb, or a clause.

  1. 1.Along a path which runs past someone or something.

    • I watched the parade as it passed by.
  2. 2.In the vicinity, near.

    • There was a shepherd close by.
  3. 3.To or at a place, as a residence or place of business.

    • I'll stop by on my way home from work.
    • We're right near the lifeguard station. Come by before you leave.
  4. 4.Aside, away.

    • The women spent much time after harvest putting jams by for winter and spring.

Preposition

A word placed before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show its relationship to another part of the sentence.

  1. 1.Near or next to.

    • The mailbox is by the bus stop.
  2. 2.Not later than (the given time); not later than the end of (the given time interval); before.

    • We'll find someone by the end of March.
    • I'll have been cycling for longer than two hours by lunchtime.
    • Be back by ten o'clock!
  3. 3.After a given amount of time has elapsed or a given event has occurred.

    • By February, we were all sick of the cold.
    • By 29, my financial situation wasn’t just disorganized, it was untenable.
    • By the time I realized I had left my phone at home, I was already two blocks from work.
  4. 4.From one side of something to the other, passing close by; past.

    • The stream runs by our back door.
    • He ran straight by me.

Frequency

Overall

Very common· #33

By learning goal

Everyday conversation
Uncommon
General reading & writing
Very common
Academic
Common
Literature
Uncommon

Etymology

From Middle English by, bi, from Old English bī (“by; near; around”), from Proto-West Germanic *bī, from Proto-Germanic *bi (“near; by; around; about”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁epi.

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