by

Meanings

Adverb

• Along a path which runs past the speaker.
• In the vicinity, near.
• To or at a place, as a residence or place of business.
• Aside, away.

Adjective

• Out of the way, off to one side.
• Subsidiary, incidental.

Noun

• Alternative of bye.

Interjection

• Alternate spelling of bye.

Related

Opposite words

• main, principal

Origin

• From Middle English by, bi, from Old English bī ("by; near; around"), from Proto-Germanic *bi ("near; by; around; about"), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁epi. Cognate with West Frisian by ("by; near"), Afrikaans by ("at; by; near"), Saterland Frisian bie ("near; by"), Dutch bij ("near; by"), German Low German bi ("by; near; at"), German bei ("by; near; at").