Meanings
verbdo by (third-person singular simple present does by, present participle doing by, simple past did by, past participle done by)
present singular third person does by · participle present doing by · past did by · participle past done by
- informalusuallyTo perform on behalf of someone or with someone in mind; to behave in a manner befitting someone.
Do as you would be done by.
1 more example
I've tried hard to do right by him. Even so, he continues to do badly by me.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Cite this entry
APA
do by. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/do%20by
MLA
“do by.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/do%20by. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “do by,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/do%20by.
Source: do by on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.