by
Next to something
By is a versatile preposition, but typically it supplies the agent – the name of a person or thing – in a sentence with a passive verb: The report was written by the Senator’s staff.
However, by has other meanings, such as proximity (the house by the lake) and through the means or method of (She entered by the window. Pick it up by the handles.) When used with time, by represents a deadline or limit: Have the car back by 5 p.m.
At small distance
- besideAdjacent to
- alongsideAt the side of
- next toImmediately alongside something
- nearShort distance away
adjacent · bordering · neighboring · at hand · within reach · abreast · flanking · skirting
From start to finish
In slow stages
- progressivelyIn increasing stages
- incrementallyBy small successive amounts
- sequentiallyIn ordered succession
- successivelyIn uninterrupted sequence
By a small margin
- barelyOnly just, almost not
- closelyIn proximity or detail
- substantiallyTo a significant degree
- considerablyBy a large margin
nearby
At small distance
near · adjacent · bordering · neighboring · at hand · within reach · abreast · flanking · skirting
through
From start to finish
no later than
gradually
In slow stages
- progressivelyIn increasing stages
- incrementallyBy small successive amounts
- sequentiallyIn ordered succession
narrowly
By a small margin
- barelyOnly just, almost not
- closelyIn proximity or detail
- substantiallyTo a significant degree
according to
As stated by
- in accordance withConforming to guidelines
- by the wayConversational aside marker
- bye byeInformal repeated farewell
- by mistakeUnintentionally, in error
- by accidentWithout intent or planning
- stand byRemain ready to assist
- side by sideAdjacent and parallel
bye, bypass, bygone, byway, bylaw, byline, byname, bylaws, byte