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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.

"We were barely getting by as it is. I don't know how people will manage," she told AFP at a Cairo market.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

Thousands of teachers more “are barely getting by just above the median income, living paycheck to paycheck after decades working for the district,” the union statement said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 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

According to a 2024 MarketWatch analysis, “the typical American family with this income is just getting by, with little cushion for unexpected expenses, savings or planning for the future without making significant compromises.”

From MarketWatch • Jan. 29, 2026

For now we were getting by on Arturo’s paycheck week to week, which was just enough to cover rent and bus fare and food.

From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez