EN

Synonyms for by and by

  • adverb
  • noun

Most common

now later soon shortly in due course stat

All synonyms

Adverb

1. Soon

soon, now, later, shortly, presently, sooner or later

Other

in due course, stat

Noun

other side, spirit world

Definitions

  1. adv. 1

    After a short time.

  2. n. 1

    Heaven; the hereafter. Usually preceded with "the sweet."

    I'm sorry ma'am, but your cat's gone on to the sweet by and by.

Related words

Other spellings
by-and-by

Choose the right word

By And By or Immediately?

By and by, which was once a synonym, has become an antonym of immediately, meaning at some (perhaps remote) future time.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • now The odds are against me, so I think I'll quit now.
  • later It was not until a few days later that he arrived.
  • soon Soon the bath was cool enough for him to get into.
  • shortly This picture was taken shortly before Tom's death.
  • stat We really need more American slang on Tatoeba, stat!

By length

3 letters
now1
4 letters
soon1, stat1
5 letters
later2
7 letters
shortly2
9 letters
presently3

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (later2 = 2 syllables).