by the way

phrase

Synonyms of by the waynext
: by way of interjection or digression : incidentally

Examples of by the way in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But for anyone disturbed by the way To Catch a Predator executes its faux-law enforcement busts, the movie risks becoming viscerally unpleasant. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026 That abyss, by the way, has spit out 19 seniors being selected to the Hall in the last seven years. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 The people watching is great, by the way, with a polarizing crowd of seniors and film students making up the bulk. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026 Do not take a picture of that picture of me on the wall in a Missouri uniform, by the way. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for by the way

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1520, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of by the way was circa 1520

Rhymes for by the way

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Browse Nearby Words

by the time
by the way
by the wayside
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Cite this Entry

“By the way.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20the%20way. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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