prep
by
beye
prep
1
Near or next to something.
"She sat by the window all evening."
2
Not later than a stated time.
"Please submit the report by Friday."
3
Used to show who or what performs an action.
"The novel was written by a first-time author."
4
Through the use of a particular method.
"They travelled by train instead of flying."
How to Use By
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne of English's most common small words — showing nearness, a deadline, an agent, or a method.
Common pairings
by hand
by far
by the way
stop by
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She sat _____ the window all evening.
Etymology
From Old English bī ("near, by, around"), an ancient Germanic preposition related to German bei and Dutch bij.