GETS BY Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

gets by

verb

present tense third-person singular of get by

as in copes

to meet one's day-to-day needs working at night paid my college tuition and enabled me to get by—but just barely

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of gets by Adaya Amaya, 47, ran a catering business from her home and now operates a food truck but barely gets by. — Elliot Spagat, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 But the retired mortician, who gets by on Social Security benefits with her husband, doesn't buy it anymore. — Israel Schuman, Des Moines Register, 9 Sep. 2026 Don Diamont gets by with a little help from his friends and former costars. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026 That’s around $5 billion, more than eight times the amount collected in fees, and the lead left gets by far the biggest portion. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 10 June 2026 Even a guy who normally gets by with just his wallet will appreciate this best-selling bag from Osprey. — Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 27 May 2026 Another entry in our recent deluge of ironic gorefests, Over Your Dead Body doesn’t really give us anything new, although for its first half at least, the picture gets by on some verve and a modicum of intelligence. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026 There was also the City Council’s jaw-dropping decision in November to raise the annual fees for the two subsidized valet parking spots every hotel gets by 789% — from $634 to $5,000. — U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026 For example, a saltwater pool can increase the number of daily saves a listing gets by 11%; the same thing goes for an outdoor shower. — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gets by

Verb

An event can cause great pain to one person while another copes with it much better.

— Roberto Prieto, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
Hollis buries herself in work in an attempt to escape her complicated grief, while aspiring filmmaker Caroline copes by making snarky remarks and bristling at her mom's efforts to connect.

— Clarissa Cruz, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026

Definition of copes

Verb

Her family describes her as incredibly funny and someone who gets along with just about everybody.

— Eric Henderson, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Her incompatibility is expertly and efficiently illustrated in an immediate fallout with Gordon’s brash but lovable brother, Heavy (Justin Rosniak), who Ash gets along with swimmingly.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of gets along

Verb

Not surprisingly, the legislation does nothing to curb the growth of compensation and other benefits for college presidents, athletics directors, coaches and staff who continue to be in charge of the athletes under their control.

— Bruce Svare, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2026
These days, the interjection does a lot of work online as an all-purpose signifier of derogation.

— Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of does

Verb

American Transmission Company, a utility firm that develops and manages high-voltage transmission lines, has seen rapid growth, in part thanks to the AI and data center buildout.

— Ted Kitterman, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
The firm manages the cable’s arrival on France’s Atlantic coast and integrates it into Europe’s terrestrial network.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026