thereby
theh-uh-BEYE
Thereby (adv) means By that means; as a result of that. Example: “She trained every morning, thereby improving her fitness a little each week.”
adv
1
By that means; as a result of that.
"I enrolled in Old English classes and thereby learned much about Germanic languages."
"Smoking is a form of self-inflicted injury and is thereby prohibited by Jewish law."
— David Golinkin, Is Smoking Prohibited By Jewish Law (2000)
"She trained every morning, thereby improving her fitness a little each week."
"He skipped the meeting, thereby missing the announcement."
"The company cut costs, thereby increasing profits."
"For it would surely improve the domestic standing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an unbudgeable hawk, and thereby indefinitely delay peace on that Middle Eastern front."
— , Answering Iran’s Nuclear Challenge (2009)
How to use thereby
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA formal way of saying "in that way" or "as a result".
When to use it
Mostly used in formal or written English.
Common pairings
thereby causing
thereby avoiding
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Etymology
From Old English thaerbig, formed from there plus by.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for thereby
See all rhymes for thereby →Frequently asked questions
What does “thereby” mean?
The word “thereby” means by that means; as a result of that. In plain terms, a formal way of saying "in that way" or "as a result".
How do you pronounce “thereby”?
“Thereby” is pronounced theh-uh-BEYE (/ðɛɹˈbaɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “thereby” in a sentence?
Here is “thereby” used in a sentence: “He skipped the meeting, thereby missing the announcement.”
What part of speech is “thereby”?
“Thereby” is an adverb.
Where does the word “thereby” come from?
The word “thereby” comes from Old English. From Old English thaerbig, formed from there plus by.
Is “thereby” a common word?
“Thereby” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
What is the difference between thereby and therefore?
Thereby means "by that means" — it points to the action that produces a result, as in "the firm cut waste, thereby saving money." Therefore means "for that reason" and introduces a conclusion, as in "costs fell; therefore profits rose." Use thereby for how something happened and therefore for why a conclusion follows.
Is thereby formal?
Yes, thereby belongs to formal written English and is frequent in legal, academic, and business documents. In everyday speech, people usually say "and so," "as a result," or "by doing that" instead.
What verb form usually follows thereby?
Thereby is typically followed by an -ing participle that names the result of the action just mentioned: "the dam slowed the river, thereby reducing flooding." This "thereby + -ing" pattern is by far the most common way the word is used.
What is the difference between thereby and thus?
Thereby specifically means "by that means; as a result of that," so it always ties a result to the action just mentioned. Thus is broader: it can mean "in this way," but also "therefore," introducing a conclusion. Where both fit, thus sounds slightly less legalistic than thereby.
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