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getting by

VERB

manage, survive

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cope get along get on prosper subsist thrive

WEAK

contrive do do well enough exist fare flourish make ends meet make out muddle through shift succeed

Antonyms

STRONGEST

fail lose

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Some Iranians have expressed worry the standoff could explode into fighting again, but for many their focus is on getting by each day.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

“For those people who are just getting by, they may be thinking: ‘I’m going to deal with that later.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026

Mabel is a middle-aged woman who is barely getting by in the bleak Alaskan setting of Eowyn Ivey’s novel.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

Both men always appear cheerful and pragmatic, and both are notorious for getting by on precious little sleep.

From BBC • Oct. 29, 2025

“We expect no more these days. People have enough trouble getting by on their own. . . .”

From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak