by the way Definition

by
prep

1. Next to, beside or near.

Example: standing by the door
2. Past.

Example: I'll drive by the house
3. Through, along or across.

Example: enter by the window
4. (especially after a passive verb) used to indicate the person or thing that does, causes or produces, etc something.

Example: He was bitten by a dog
Example: destroyed by fire
5. Used to show method or means.

Example: travel by air
Example: sent by registered post
6. Not later than.

Example: Be home by 10pm
7. During.

Example: escape by night
8. Used to show extent or amount.

Example: bigger by six feet
Example: The price fell by £2
Example: worse by far
9. Used in stating rates of payment, etc.

Example: paid by the hour
10. According to.

Example: It's 8.15 by my watch
Example: By my calculation, we're overdrawn
11. Used to show the part of someone or something held, taken or used, etc.

Example: grabbed her by the throat
Example: pulling me by the hand
12. Used to show the number which must perform a mathematical operation on another.

Example: divide six by two
Example: multiply three by four
13. Used in giving measurements and compass directions, etc.

Example: a room measuring six feet by ten
Example: north-north-east by north
14. Used to show a specific quantity or unit, etc that follows another to bring about an increase or progression.

Example: step by step
Example: little by little
Example: two by two
15. With regard to someone or something.

Example: do his duty by them
16. In oaths, etc: in the name of, or strictly ‘with the witness of' or ‘in the presence of' (a specified deity, thing or person)

Example: I swear by all that's holy
Example: By God, you're right!
17. Fathered or sired by.

Example: two children by her first husband

adverb

1. Near.

Example: live close by
2. Past.

Example: drive by without stopping
3. Aside; away; in reserve.

Example: put money by
(chiefly N Amer)
4. To or at one's or someone's home, etc.

Example: Come by for a drink later
Example: said he'd stop by after work

noun

byes
1. Same as bye¹.

Idiom: by and by

rather literary or old use
After a short time; at some time in the not-too-distant future.

Idiom: by and large

Generally; all things considered. A 17c: originally a nautical expression, used in reference to a ship sailing both by (ie into the wind) and large (ie with the wind).

Idiom: by itself

See itself.

Idiom: by oneself

Alone.
Example: Sit by yourself over there

Without anyone else's help.
Example: can't do it by myself

Idiom: by the by (by the bye, by the way)

colloq
While I think of it; incidentally.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon be or bi.

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way
noun ways

1a. A route, entrance or exit, etc that provides passage or access somewhere;

Thesaurus: road, trail, walk, highway (US), byway.
1b. The passage or access provided.
2. The route, road or direction taken for a particular journey.
3. A track or road.
4. Used in street names.

Form: Way
5. A direction of motion.

Example: a one-way street
Example: a two-way radio
6. An established position.

Example: the wrong way up
Example: the other way round
7. A distance in space or time.

Example: a little way ahead
8. One's district.

Example: if you're round our way
9. The route or path ahead; room to move or progress.
10. A means or method of doing something.

Thesaurus: means, method, mode, plan, technique, design, system, procedure, process, contrivance, step, idea, policy.
11. A distinctive manner or style.
12. Customs or rituals.

Form: ways
13. A characteristic piece of behaviour.
14. A habit or routine.
15. A typical pattern or course.

Example: It's always the way
16. A mental approach.

Example: different ways of looking at it
17. A respect.

Example: correct in some ways
18. An alternative course, possibility or choice, etc.
19. A state or condition.
20. Scale.
21. Progress; forward motion.

Example: made their way through the crowds
22. naut.
Headway; progress or motion through the water.
Example: made little way that day
23. engineering.
The machined surfaces of the top of a lathe bed on which the carriage slides.
Form: ways
24. engineering.
The framework of timbers on which a ship slides when being launched.

adverb

1. colloq
Far; a long way.
Example: met way back in the 60s

Idiom: across the way (over the way)

On or to the other side of something, eg a street.
Example: I just live across the way

Idiom: be on (get on one's way)

To make a start on a journey.

Idiom: by the way

Incidentally; let me mention while I remember.

Idiom: by way of ...

As a form or means of ....
Example: He grinned by way of apology

Idiom: by way of somewhere

By the route that passes through it.

Idiom: come someone's way

Said of an opportunity, etc: to become available to them, especially unexpectedly.

Idiom: divide something three ways (divide something four etc ways)

To divide it into three or four, etc parts.

Idiom: get one's own way (have one's own way)

To do, get or have what one wants, often as opposed to what others want.

Idiom: give way

To collapse or subside.

To fail or break down under pressure, etc.

To yield to persuasion or pressure.

Idiom: go all the way with someone (go the whole way with someone)

slang
To have sexual intercourse with them.

Idiom: go one's own way

To do or behave as one likes, especially in a manner different from others.

Idiom: go out of one's way

To make special efforts; to do more than is needed.

Idiom: go someone's way

Said eg of circumstances: to favour them.

Idiom: have a way with someone or something

To be good at dealing with them.

Idiom: have a way with one

colloq
To have an attractive manner.

Idiom: have it both ways

To benefit from two actions, situations or arguments, etc, each of which excludes the possibility or validity, etc of the others.

Idiom: have it one's way (have everything one's way, have everything one's own way)

To get one's way in something or everything, especially with disregard for the advice or opinions of others.

Idiom: in a bad way

colloq
In a poor or serious condition; unhealthy.

Idiom: in a big way

colloq
With enthusiasm; on a large or grandiose scale.

Idiom: in a way

From a certain viewpoint; to some extent.

Idiom: in its etc own way

As far as it etc goes; within limits.

Idiom: in no way

Not at all.

Idiom: in the way of something

In the nature of it.
Example: not much in the way of cash

Idiom: lead the way (show the way)

To act as a guide or inspiration to others.

Idiom: learn one's way around

To accustom oneself to one's new environment or duties, etc.

Idiom: look the other way

To ignore or pretend not to notice something.

Idiom: lose the way (lose one's way)

To leave one's intended or known route by mistake.

Idiom: make one's way

To go purposefully.

To progress or prosper.
Example: making her way in life

Idiom: make way for someone or something

To stand aside, or make room, for them or it.

To be replaced by them or it.

Idiom: no two ways about it

That's certain; no doubt about it.

Idiom: no way

slang
Absolutely not.

Idiom: on the way out

Becoming unfashionable.

Idiom: on the way to ...

Progressing towards ....
Example: well on the way to becoming a millionaire

Idiom: one way and another

Considering certain aspects or features, etc of something.
Example: It's been a good year, one way and another

Idiom: out of the way

Situated so as not to hinder or obstruct anyone.

Remote; in the middle of nowhere.

Idiom: pay one's way

To pay one's own debts and living expenses.

Idiom: put someone out of the way

To kill them.

Idiom: put someone in the way of something

To contrive to make it available to them.

Idiom: see one's way to doing something (see one's way clear to doing something)

To be able and willing to do it.

Idiom: that's the way!

A formula of encouragement or approval.

Idiom: the way (this way, that way)

The manner or tendency of a person's feelings or wishes, etc.
Example: Do you really want it this way?
Example: I didn't know you felt that way

Idiom: under way

In motion; progressing.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon weg.