Usually means: Eventually, after a short period.
Definitions Related words Mentions
We found 23 dictionaries that define the word by and by:

General (20 matching dictionaries)
  1. by-and-by, by and by: Merriam-Webster
  2. by and by: Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
  3. by-and-by, by and by: American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
  4. by and by: Collins English Dictionary
  5. by-and-by, by and by: Vocabulary.com
  6. by and by: Wordnik
  7. by and by: Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
  8. by-and-by, by and by: Wiktionary
  9. by-and-by: Webster's New World College Dictionary, 4th Ed.
  10. by-and-by: Infoplease Dictionary
  11. By and by, by-and-by, by and by: Dictionary.com
  12. By and By: Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
  13. by-and-by, by and by: Rhymezone
  14. by-and-by, by and by: MyWord.info
  15. by-and-by, by and by: FreeDictionary.org
  16. by-and-by, by and by: Mnemonic Dictionary
  17. by-and-by, by and by: TheFreeDictionary.com
  18. by and by: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

Religion (2 matching dictionaries)
  1. By and by: Easton Bible
  2. BY AND BY: Glossary of Biblical English of the Authorised Version of the HOLY BIBLE

Slang (1 matching dictionary)
  1. by and by: Urban Dictionary

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Definitions from Wiktionary (by and by)

▸ adverb:  After a short time.
▸ adverb:  After an indefinite period.
▸ adverb:  (obsolete) Immediately; at once.
▸ noun:  Heaven; the hereafter. Usually preceded with "the sweet."

Similar:
later, by and bye, shortly, awhile, betimes, soon, byembye, in a little while, belive, later on, more...

Types:
presently, shortly, soon, in a moment, in a while, in a bit, in a jiffy, more...

Adjectives:
later, sometime, now, latter, whilom, soon, future, anon, ultimate, hereafter, then

▸ Words similar to by and by

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Similar:
later, by and bye, shortly, awhile, betimes, soon, byembye, in a little while, belive, later on, more...

Types:
presently, shortly, soon, in a moment, in a while, in a bit, in a jiffy, more...

Adjectives:
later, sometime, now, latter, whilom, soon, future, anon, ultimate, hereafter, then



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