1 beside; very near 在旁边；在左右: Come and sit by me. 来坐在我身边。We stayed in a cottage by the sea. 我们下榻在海边一所小屋。The shops are close by. 商店就在附近。

2 past 经过；通过: He walked straight by me without speaking. 他从我身边直走过去，话也不说。We stopped to let the ambulance get by. 我们停下来让救护车驶过。

3 not later than; before 不迟于；在特指的时间之前: I'll be home by 7 o'clock. 7点前我会回到家里。He should have telephoned by now/by this time. 这个时候他该打了电话才是。

4 (usually without the 通常不与the连用) during a period of time; in a particular situation 期间；在…情况下: By day we covered about thirty miles and by night we rested. 我们白天走三十英里左右的路，晚上便停下来休息。The electricity went off so we had to work by candlelight. 停电了，我们不得不在烛光下工作。

5 used after a passive verb for showing who or what did or caused sth （用于引进施动者）: She was knocked down by a car. 她被汽车撞倒。The event was organized by local people. 这件盛事由当地人士举办。I was deeply shocked by the news. 那消息叫我十分震惊。Who was the book written by?/Who is the book by? 这本书是谁写的？

6 through doing or using sth; by means of sth 以某种行动、手段或工具: You can get hold of me by phoning this number. 拨这个电话号码可以找到我。Will you be paying by cheque? 你用支票付款吗？The house is heated by electricity. 这房子靠电力供应暖气。‘How do you go to work?’ ‘By train, usually.’ “你怎么上班？”“通常搭火车。”by bus/car/plane/bicycle 坐公共汽车；坐汽车；坐飞机；骑自行车We went in by the back door. 我们是从后门进去。

7 as a result of sth; due to sth 由于: I got on the wrong bus by mistake/accident. 我不小心上错了公共汽车。I met an old friend by chance. 我碰见了一个老朋友。

8 according to sth; with regard to sth 根据；依照: It's 8 o'clock by my watch. 我的表现在是8点钟。By law you have to attend school from the age of five. 法定入学年龄是五岁。She's French by birth. 她是法裔。He's a doctor by profession. 他以行医为业。

9 used for multiplying or dividing （用于乘除运算）: 4 multiplied by 5 is 20. 4乘以5得20。6 divided by 2 is 3. 6除以2得3。

10 used for showing the measurements of an area （用于表示尺寸、面积）: The table is six feet by three feet (= six feet long and three feet wide). 桌子长六英尺宽三英尺。

11 (often used with the 常与the连用) in the quantity or period mentioned 按所述的量计；按所述的时计: You can rent a car by the day, the week or the month. 你可按日、按周或按月租车。Copies of the book have sold by the million. 这书已经售出上百万册。They came in one by one. 他们鱼贯而入。Day by day she was getting better. 她的病情日见好转。

12 to the amount mentioned 到所述的数量: Prices have gone up by 10 per cent. 价格涨了一成。I missed the bus by a few minutes. 我差几分钟没有赶上那班车。

13 (used with a part of the body or an article of clothing) holding （用于身体或衣服的某部份）拿着，抓住: He grabbed me by the arm. 他一把拉住我的胳膊。