By Meaning and Definition
By
Pronunciation
/baɪ/
Part of Speech
Prefix or Suffix
Definition
A prefix or suffix used to indicate proximity, origin, or possession, as in “back by” or “born by”.
Examples
- The farm is located by the river.
- He was born by C-section.
Synonyms
- Near
- Next
- From
Antonyms
- Far
- Remote
- Opposite
Etymology
The prefix “by” comes from Old English “bi” and Middle English “by”, meaning “near” or “next to”.
Usage Notes
Use “by” to indicate proximity, as in “the store is by the post office”. Use “from” to indicate origin, as in “the book is from my favorite author”.
Cultural References
“By” is referenced in the popular TV show “Friends” in the episode “The One Where No One’s Ready”.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- And so on and so forth, by the way
- To by and large
Related Words or Phrases
- Near
- Nearby
- Close
Collocations
- By the way
- By and large
- By degrees
Frequency of Use
“By” is one of the most frequently used prepositions in the English language.
Common Misspellings
- Bay
- Bey