Synonyms of get by

get by

verb

as in to cope

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

• cope
• do
• get on
• get along
• manage
• make do
• make out
• make ends meet
• survive
• make shift
• fare
• shift
• carry on
• afford
• fend for oneself
• eke out
• scrape (by or through)
• last
• scrape (out)
• scrounge
• contrive
• squeeze
• swing
• wring
• wrest

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fall short
• fail
• collapse
• decline
• give up
• flounder
• wane
• slump
• fizzle
• peter (out)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of get by

The Halls get by on around $1,500 a month from his Social Security benefits, plus assistance from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. —Taylor Sisk, CBS News, 20 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

Here’s a rundown of how to get by in some of the world’s most affordable countries for less than $30 a day, including lodging, food, and activities. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 16 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