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• by-and-by
  by-and-by

  noun

  the future.
• by and by
  by and by

  adverb

  presently or eventually

by-and-by

American  

[bahy-uhn-bahy] / ˌbaɪ ənˈbaɪ /

noun

1. the future.

   to meet in the sweet by-and-by.

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by and by British  

adverb

1. presently or eventually

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noun

1. a future time or occasion

by and by Idioms  

1. After a while, soon, as in She'll be along by and by. The expression probably relies on the meaning of by as a succession of quantities (as in “two by two”). This adverbial phrase came to be used as a noun, denoting either procrastination or the future. William Camden so used it for the former (Remains, 1605): “Two anons and a by and by is an hour and a half.” And W.S. Gilbert used it in the latter sense when Lady Jane sings plaintively that little will be left of her “in the coming by and by,” that is, as she grows old (Patience, 1881). [Early 1500s]

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Etymology

Origin of by-and-by

1300–50; Middle English bi and bi one by one, at once. See by

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

by-and-by by and by

Leon allows only a misty glimpse of the sweet by-and-by.

From Time Magazine Archive

Teen magazines thus urge their advertisers to pursue the consumer "not in the sweet by-and-by, but in the much sweeter now-and-now."

From Time Magazine Archive

"I plan to attempt it again by-and-by," he told reporters.

From Time Magazine Archive

“Just wait till I see Annie Moffat, and I’ll show you how to settle such ridiculous stuff. The idea of having ‘plans’ and being kind to Laurie because he’s rich and may marry us by-and-by!

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

“Highty-tighty! Is that the way you take my advice, Miss? You’ll be sorry for it by-and-by, when you’ve tried love in a cottage and found it a failure.”

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

If more people take initiative like this, it might happen, by and by.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 20, 2022

In a volume of autobiography, he recalled: ‘In the early days I liked Bret Harte . . . but by and by I got over it.’

From Salon ● Jun. 23, 2019

For knowing people of faith who aid those in need — the genesis, by and by, of the Salvation Army’s red kettles and faithful bell ringers, and the blessings from Catholic Charities.

From Washington Times ● Nov. 22, 2018

"Ain't no use sit 'n cry / You'll be an angel by and by / Sail away, ladies, sail away."

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 7, 2015

Soon someone would cry again, and the voices would begin again; there would be music by and by, and shouting, and the sound of the tambourines.

From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin